Sentence includes probation, license suspension
NORWALK — Heath Tester, a major with the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, was convicted of operating a vehicle while impaired following a July traffic stop in Norwalk.
Tester, 55, of Vermilion, pleaded no contest Aug. 4 in Norwalk Municipal Court and was found guilty. The OVI offense is a first-degree misdemeanor.
An improper-left-turn charge, a minor misdemeanor, was dismissed.
The court imposed a 90-day jail sentence but suspended 87 days. Tester will receive credit for the other three days if he completes an approved alcohol intervention program by Nov. 4.
He also was placed on probation for two years. The conditions require him to follow the law and avoid additional convictions during that period.
Tester must complete six months of substance-abuse counseling and submit proof to the court by March 4, 2027.
The sentence includes a $750 fine and $154 in court costs. Tester has paid $500 toward the $904 total, leaving $404 unpaid. The court ordered him to pay the remaining amount within 90 days.
A sentencing review hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 12. The court entry states that the hearing will not be held if Tester pays the fine in full before then.
Tester’s driver’s license is suspended for one year, from July 17, 2026, to July 17, 2027. He was granted limited driving privileges beginning Aug. 4, contingent upon proof of an otherwise valid license, insurance and occupation.
The case resolution led to the cancellation of a Sept. 11 suppression hearing and a Nov. 6 jury trial.
Tester was placed on administrative leave after the charges were filed. Lorain County Sheriff Jack Hall said in a text message Friday that Tester has returned to work but will face disciplinary hearings next week.
July 17 traffic stop
The case began with reports of a dark-colored Chevrolet pickup traveling erratically through Norwalk shortly before 10 p.m. July 17.
An off-duty officer reported seeing the pickup traveling east in the westbound lane of West Washington Street. According to the police report, the vehicle passed in a no-passing zone and went through a red light at Whittlesey Avenue.
Several drivers had to brake or sound their horns to avoid a collision, police said.
The pickup later failed to make a curve near East League Street, left the road and traveled through Workers Memorial Park before stopping briefly on a sidewalk. After returning to the roadway, the vehicle continued crossing into opposing lanes and nearly struck several other vehicles.
Norwalk officers caught up with the pickup near Milan Avenue and East Main Street. Police said the driver did not immediately pull over after an officer activated his emergency lights but eventually stopped near Garden Street.
The arresting officer reported that Tester had glossy eyes and slurred speech and that the odor of an alcoholic beverage was coming from inside the pickup. Tester denied consuming alcohol.
Police said Tester also appeared confused about his location and told the officer he was in Oberlin.
Tester declined to complete standardized field sobriety tests. After his arrest, he refused to provide a breath sample at the Norwalk Police Department.
Police seized his driver’s license and entered an administrative license suspension because of the refusal.
