DETROIT, OREGON
Three people were arrested Saturday at Detroit Lake after rowdy and intoxicated boaters attempted to interfere with a Marion County deputy's investigation of a reported drunken driver, the Sheriff's Office said.
Marion County Sheriff's Marion Patrol Deputy Dave Zahn was investigating a report that the driver of a pontoon boat had almost run into two other boats and that the marina staff who rented the boat had to jump on board to dock it, according to a press release. When Zahn attempted to speak with the driver about 6 p.m. at the Detroit Lake Marina Annex, others in the group started to interfere, yelling and throwing empty beer cans.
The group, which was on three pontoon boats, had 35 to 40 people.
Zahn eventually put the driver in handcuffs and had two Marion County cadets, who are youth volunteers, escort him off the dock. Officer Jesus Armenta, of the U.S. Forest Service, arrived to provide cover, and another person was taken into custody after he approached the Armenta and Zahn, being aggressive and argumentative.
A third person was arrested when he started to approach the two cadets escorting the driver and was stopped by several off-duty Marion County deputies who had just arrived at the marina and jumped in to help out.
The driver of the pontoon, Edward Ramirez, 22, was charged with boating under the influence of intoxicants. He had a blood alcohol content one and a half times the legal limit, according to the sheriff's office. He was cited then released back to his camp site.
Ivan Barajas, 23, and Ernesto Barajas, 26, were each charged with second-degree disorderly conduct and interfering with a police officer. They were taken to Marion County jail. All three men are from California.
"This was a very dangerous situation where deputies were dealing with intoxicated subjects on a dock and were greatly outnumbered by the subjects in the group," the press release said. "The deputies showed a great deal of restraint and were able to resolve the situation with no injuries to anyone involved."
The Sheriff's Office said while it's legal to drink on a boat, it is not legal for the driver to be intoxicated. More than half of all boating accidents involve alcohol, according to the press release.
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DETROIT, Ore. (KOIN) —
Three Californians were arrested on various charges that stemmed from allegedly intoxicated pontoon boaters who confronted Marion County deputies.
The Saturday incident happened at the Detroit Lake Marina Annex around 6 p.m., authorities said. Deputies were called when one of the pontoon boat drivers had almost hit 2 other boats.
A total of 4 pontoon boats had between 35-40 people in their party. As the allegedly drunk pontoon driver, Edward Ramirez, was being questioned by a deputy, another person began to interfere with the deputy and others began throwing empty beer cans.
Ramirez, 22, was handcuffed and led away by Marion County cadets as the deputy called for help and tried to keep the crowd under control.
An officer arrived and helped the deputy deal with another man who was allegedly swinging at the authorities. The third man was seen approaching the cadets and was arrested by other Marion County deputies who arrived as back-up.
Those men, Ivan Barajas, 23, and 26-year-old Ernesto Barajas face 2nd-degree disorderly conduct and interfering with a police officer charges.
Ramirez, whose BAC was reportedly one-and-a-half times the legal limit, was charged with boating under the influence of intoxicants.
All three are in the Marion County Jail.