Ohnemus

By SYDNEY SCHWARTZ
The Patriot Ledger

MARSHFIELD - The Marshfield man who skipped his trial last month for his seventh drunken driving charge has been arrested in Florida.

Robert Thomas Ohnemus, 70, of 22 Longview Terrace was arrested Thursday by Polk County sheriffs at a house in Clermont, Fla.

When he fled, Ohnemus was awaiting trial on charges of nearly running down two officers during a seven-mile chase through Marshfield in February 2006. His license has been revoked several times for drunken driving and being a habitual traffic offender.

The Polk County sheriff’s office said officers found Ohnemus through a handicap placard. They confirmed that he lived at a Clermont house with a next-door neighbor.

Police said they knocked several times at the house at around 7:20 a.m., but that no one answered the door. They saw Ohnemus looking out the blinds of the kitchen window and walking around in the house.

When sheriff’s officers eventually got inside, they found Ohnemus sitting in the bedroom on the edge of a bed, they said. When they asked him why he failed to answer the door, he said he was afraid, they said.

Ohnemus was charged as a fugitive from justice and with resisting an officer without violence. He is being held at the infirmary at Central County Jail Facility in Bartow, Fla.

A spokeswoman in the sheriff’s office said she did not know how Ohnemus was found or why he was being held in a medical unit.

Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz said his office would file paperwork to have Ohnemus brought back to Massachusetts as soon as possible. If Ohnemus waives extradition he could be returned this coming week. If not, Cruz said, the process could take several months.

Once Ohnemus is returned to Massachusetts, Cruz said, he will be taken to court and a new trial date will be scheduled. Cruz said his office will request that Ohnemus be held without bail to prevent the repeat drunken driver from fleeing again.

‘‘He’s a flight risk. On top of all that, he’s a danger to the community,’’ Cruz said. ‘‘An individual who really doesn’t care if he gets behind the wheel. ... Quite honestly, we just can't tolerate that.’’

Ohnemus has drunken driving convictions dating from 1972, according to the state Registry of Motor Vehicles. His record shows numerous license revocations for reasons including drunken driving convictions, for driving with a suspended or revoked license and for being a habitual traffic offender.

Marshfield police have arrested him several times for drunken driving and other motor vehicle charges.

When Ohnemus was last arrested, in February 2006, he had no license but had altered a Massachusetts identity card using his picture and another person’s name, police say.

Police say he drove away after being pulled over, leading police on a 7-mile chase through Marshfield at speeds of up to 50 mph. He drove over curbs and traffic islands and backed into utility poles trying to elude officers, the police report said, and nearly struck two officers. One had to jump on the hood of his cruiser to avoid being run down.

Police said Ohnemus stopped at his house but refused to get out of the car. Officers had to drag him out and he fought with them, they said.

Besides seventh-offense drunken driving, Ohnemus pleaded innocent to charges of driving with a suspended license, driving to endanger, driving with a suspended registration, improper operation of a motor vehicle, lane violations, driving with an open container of alcohol, driving with a revoked license, speeding, possessing an altered license, two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, four counts of failure to stop or yield and two counts of resisting arrest.

Ohnemus’ son, Jeffrey Ohnemus, 44, was charged with third-offense drunken driving last winter. Police said he was carrying an expired Florida driver’s license.

Police were furious when Judge Thomas Brownell freed Ohnemus on $1,000 bail after a hearing to determine whether he was a danger to the community.

Marshfield police said last month that they suspected Ohnemus was in Florida, where his son may live. Police said he might have been in New Orleans the week before his court date but returned to Marshfield. On Aug. 20, he was seen shopping in a local grocery store.

Tamara Race of The Patriot Ledger staff contributed to this report.

Sydney Schwartz may be reached at sschwartz@ledger.com.

Copyright 2007 The Patriot Ledger
Transmitted Friday, September 28, 2007