CCSO release – The annual celebration in Powers known as White Cedar Days kicked off a week of festivities. The Coos County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Powers Police and the Oregon State Police by sending a deputy on overtime utilizing the federally funded Driving under the Influence enforcement grant and having a Timber patrol deputy on adjacent timberlands. Both of these deputy sheriff’s were able to locate and arrest driver’s who were operating their vehicles while under the influence of intoxicants. On July 7, 2018 at about 10:45 pm the first deputy on the overtime grant located a vehicle which did not use its turn signal. When the deputy contacted the driver, signs of impairment were observed. The driver, Derek Duke, 32 years old of Coquille, consented to Standardized Field Sobriety Tests which he failed. Mr. Duke was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Coos County Jail. Mr. Duke provided a breath sample of .21% Blood Alcohol Content. Mr. Duke was booked in and later released to a responsible adult. Later, on July 8, 2018, at about 1:11am, Deputies from the Coos County Sheriff’s Office made a traffic stop on a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe after observing it failing to maintain a single lane of travel and nearly exiting the roadway on two occasions on Powers Highway. Kerry Smith was identified as the driver and the passenger was identified as his wife, Perla Careaga. While talking to Smith, significant signs of impairment were noted. The investigation revealed that Smith and Careaga were traveling from camping at China Flats. Mr. Smith consented to Field Sobriety Tests, which after investigation he was arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. Mr. Smith was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Coos County Jail. Mr. Smith provided a breath sample which showed him to have a BAC of .25%. Smith was cited for Recklessly Endangering Another and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and released to the jail staff.
