Early Sunday morning, November 15th, Galesburg Police were dispatched to the intersection of East Knox and Pine Streets in reference to car striking a utility pole. According to police reports, upon arrival, officers made contact with the driver: 40-year old Robert Barnes of Galesburg. Given the situation and the fact that Barnes had slurred speech and was swaying from side to side, officers conducted a field sobriety test. Then after a failed test, Barnes was placed under arrest for Driving Under the Influence. Back at the Public Safety Building, Barnes supplied a breath sample with a BAC that came back as .145. Barnes was additionally charged with Driving Under the Influence with a BAC higher than .08.
Sunday afternoon, while patrolling on East Main Street, Galesburg Police observed a vehicle without any headlights or taillights cross over the centerline of traffic numerous times and initiated a traffic stop. The sedan pulled over near North Seminary and Ferris Streets, struck the cement curb, and came to a stop. Police made contact with the driver: 22-year old Ian Smith of Galesburg. Suspecting Smith was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, GPD asked Smith to step out of the vehicle. Officers had to tell Smith several times to put the vehicle in park – after it kept rolling forward. GPD then conducted a field sobriety test which Smith did not pass and was placed under arrest for DUI Drugs. No contraband was found on Smith, but a prescription for Buprenorphine for Smith was found in the car. Buprenorphine is an opioid used to treat opioid use disorder, acute pain, and chronic pain.
