Rollover crash leads to arrest

A 53-year-old Lorain man was arrested June 8 after Elyria police say he flipped his vehicle while drunk.

According to a police report, officers were dispatched at 9:58 p.m. for a rollover crash with possible injuries on state Route 57 near Interstate 80. Dispatch advised the officers the driver had gotten out of the crashed vehicle and was walking southbound toward I-80.

Officers found the man heading southbound on Route 57. The man, later identified as Donald W. Zelenak, told officers he had nothing to do with the crash saying, “I’m drunk and under suspension,” the report said.

Zelenak’s speech was slurred and officers could smell a strong scent of alcohol about his person, the report said. He also had cuts to his arms.

A witness was brought from the accident scene to where Zelenak was being questioned and identified him as the driver of the vehicle, the report said.

Zelenak refused to perform any field sobriety tests, and when LifeCare arrived to treat him for minor injuries from the crash, he claimed the wounds were caused by the officer tackling him and “beating him up on the highway,” according to the report.

He was cited for OVI refusal, driving under suspension, reasonable control, walking on a highway intoxicated and disorderly conduct intoxicated, the report said.

While officers were transporting Zelenak to the Lorain County Jail, he threatened to rape the wife and children of the arresting officer, according to the report. He also threatened to kill the officer and his family after he beats the charges.

Zelenak also repeatedly told the officer he would pray the officer’s children be killed before the officer got home, the report said.

Zelenak is being held at the Lorain County Jail on $2,750 bond.

Zelenak