A Sun-Star reporter was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence early Friday in Merced, police reported.
Jonah Owen Lamb, 30, was taken into custody after an officer pulled over his 1991 Toyota Land Cruiser at 1:47 a.m. in the 300 block of West 25th Street, said Lt. Andre Matthews, spokesman for the Merced Police Department.
The officer pulled over Lamb's SUV after he noticed the license plate light was out. The officer also reported that Lamb failed to make a complete stop at a stop sign, Matthews said.
After pulling him over, the officer reported smelling alcohol on Lamb's breath. Matthews said the officer asked Lamb if he'd been drinking. Lamb replied that he'd been drinking with his softball team at a downtown bar, The Partisan.
Lamb was given a field sobriety test by the officer. Based on his performance, Lamb was then given a breath test. Matthews said the test determined Lamb was driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.10 percent -- above the state's 0.08 percent legal limit to drive.
He was booked into Merced County Jail on suspicion of misdemeanor DUI and a moving violation. Lamb was released after spending about four hours in jail. His Toyota was secured and left at the scene, per his request, Matthews said.
Lamb has worked at the Sun-Star since October 2008. He covers Atwater, Livingston and county government.
He isn't the first person from the Sun-Star's editorial department to be arrested on suspicion of DUI. In February 2006, 51-year-old Michael Fitzgerald was arrested for DUI and misdemeanor hit-and-run after his vehicle struck a parked car on Highway 152, just west of Highway 33, the California Highway Patrol reported.
Fitzgerald, who is no longer employed at the Sun-Star, was a city editor at the time of his arrest.
Reporter Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsun-star.com.
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