INTERSTATE 390:
Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty reports the arrest of a West Virginia man
after a traffic complaint on Interstate 390 in the Town of Groveland. On April
11, 2017 Deputies were dispatched to Interstate 390 in the area of exit 7 for a
report of a pickup driving all over the road. Deputy John Morgan located the
vehicle in question and allegedly observed the vehicle to be swerving all over
the road as the caller had stated. According
to a press statement, the Deputy Sheriff further observed this vehicle had
extensive passenger side front damage and also saw it swerve at a tractor
trailer causing the tractor trailer to drive onto the shoulder of the road. Deputies
attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver did not comply with the emergency
lights and sirens. By this time, Deputy Brittany Smyder was also behind the
suspect vehicle and a slow speed pursuit continued. After about 2 miles
traveling between 50 and 65mph, the operator finally pulled over in the area of
mile marker 40 on Interstate 390. Deputies interviewed the operator, Donnie S.
Plumlee, 46, of Ridgley, WV. It was also allegedly discovered that earlier in
the day Plumlee had been involved in a motor vehicle crash on the Southern Tier
Expressway near the PA State Line. Plumlee's actions led Deputies to believe
that he was possibly impaired and they also allegedly located several
Alprazolam pills in the driver's side armrest, a rolled up dollar bill in the
console, and a bag of heroin. Deputy
Matthew Thomas of the Sheriff’s Office STOP DWI Unit responded to the scene for
a roadside DWI investigation. At the
conclusion of the investigation Plumlee was taken into custody for Driving
While Ability Impaired by Drugs.
Plumlee had a previous DUI-Alcohol conviction in West Virginia in 2009,
making this arrest a Felony. Geneseo PD
Officer Ben Swanson, who is a Certified Drug Recognition Expert, completed a
drug evaluation on Plumlee and his expert opinion, says the press statement, was that Plumlee was under the influence of a
narcotic analgesic and unable to operate a vehicle safely. Plumlee was charged
with felony Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, Criminal Possession of a
Controlled Substance in the 7th Degree, Reckless Driving, Failure to Comply
with a Police Officer, Driving on Roadway Shoulder, Fail to Use Turn Signal,
Failure to Maintain Lane, Failure to Keep Right, and Inadequate Headlights. Plumlee
was turned over to Central Booking Deputies at the Livingston County Jail for
processing and pre-arraignment detention. The District Attorney's Office
provided a bail recommendation of $2,000 cash or $4,000 bond. Plumlee was later arraigned in the Town of
Livonia Court before Justice Graf-Linsner.
The Judge remanded Plumlee to the custody of the Sheriff on $2,000 cash
or $4,000 secured bond.
