ELKHART COUNTY — The head boys' basketball coach at Elkhart Memorial High School was arrested Friday night in Elkhart County. Police preliminarily charged Mark Barnhizer for operating while intoxicated and driving with a suspended license, but say there was no alcohol in his system at the time.

Barnhizer was arrested near the intersection of SR 19 and County Road 6 around 10:15 Friday night, then booked into the county jail at 1:25 Saturday morning.

Elkhart County Police spokesman Trevor Wendzonka told WSBT officers spotted Barnhizer weaving in and out of traffic without signaling lane movement. Wendzonka said an officer also observed Barnhizer almost hitting a raised center median on Cassopolis St.

Elkhart Memorial Athetic Director Frank Kurth told WSBT Barnhizer was on his way home from the grocery store when a gallon of milk fell over in the passenger seat. Kurth said Barnhizer reached to get the milk then swerved, before police pulled him over.

Wendzonka said trained drug recognition experts determined Barnhizer was impaired.

"This relates more to the way he was acting," said Wendzonka. "If someone's showing signs of impairment, they do not necessarily have a blood alcohol content. These people are looking then for other factors that may have been a part of that."

Wendzonka confirmed Barnhizer took both a breath and chemical test that showed a blood alcohol content of zero. Barnhizer reportedly told officers he had been taking prescription medication.

Kurth said the coach has been taking pain medication for multiple foot surgeries.

Wendzonka told WSBT the OWI could be a result of that medication. Police sent Barnhizer's blood sample to a crime lab in Indianapolis to determine what was in the coach's system at the time.

Police records show Barnhizer was pulled over in May 2008 and cited for disregarding a stop sign. Wendzonka said Barnhizer failed to appear for a defensive driving course in October 2008. A judge suspended Barnhizer's driver's license sometime after that.

Barnhizer was reportedly late to Elkhart Memorial's first regional tournament game this morning in Michigan City. An assistant coach led the team to a 46-43 victory over Valparaiso High School.

That win advanced Memorial to play Munster tonight at 8:30 EDT in the regional finals in Michigan City. Barnhizer is coaching that game.

This is Barnhizer's third year as head coach at Elkhart Memorial.

WSBT Sports Director Greg Carroll is at the regional finals game. Stay with WSBT for updates on this story.