MITCHELL – A Mitchell man was arrested on Sunday, January 12, after being found operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license.
At approximately 6:30 p.m., Mitchell Police Officer Cody Grogan was patrolling near State Highway 37 and State Highway 60 West when he noticed a gray 2008 Nissan Versa with a broken left tail light. The vehicle turned west onto State Road 60 and stopped at a traffic light. Seeing the vehicle’s tail light issue, Officer Grogan attempted to pull up beside it to inform the driver of the malfunction without making a formal traffic stop.
However, the driver, later identified as 24-year-old Jhonatan Alvarez Vasquez of Mitchell, did not notice the officer’s approach and turned before Officer Grogan could speak to him. As a result, Officer Grogan initiated the traffic stop to address the issue.
Upon making contact with the driver, Officer Grogan confirmed the identity of Vasquez, who was the vehicle’s sole occupant. According to the probable cause affidavit, Vasquez claimed he could not speak English, and Officer Grogan communicated with him using Google Translate. Vasquez confirmed he had no driver’s license or other identification through the translation.
Further investigation revealed that Vasquez did not have a valid return in the database when his information was run. Dispatch also failed to obtain a valid return. Officer Grogan contacted Reserve Officer A.J. Enders for assistance, and Vasquez was detained.
The vehicle was impounded by Jacksons Heavy Haul towing, and the Mitchell Police Department has also notified U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to verify Vasquez’s identity.
Vasquez was charged with operating a motor vehicle without a license and taken to the Lawrence County Jail.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
