Police: Driver in crash had marijuana in system
PEOGA — A local woman has been charged with multiple misdemeanors after police found she had marijuana in her system when she crashed a car on Beech Tree Road last fall.
The crash happened just before 6 a.m. Sept. 2 in the 6100 block of Beech Tree Road, according to a probable cause affidavit by Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Austin Schonfeld.
Schonfeld reported that the driver, Destiny Vaughn, 22, of Hornettown Road, admitted to driving the vehicle. He reported that her speech was “slow and drawn out” and that her eyes were “constricted.”
Vaughn submitted to a chemical test at Johnson Memorial Hospital. Schonfeld was later informed that Vaughn had THC in her system, an active chemical in marijuana.
She was charged on Aug. 8 with operating a vehicle while intoxicated — endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor; operating a vehicle with a Schedule I or II substance or its metabolite in the body, a Class C misdemeanor; and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor.
Stop for driving left of center results in arrest
A Brown County man was arrested on Aug. 5 after police stopped him for driving left of center.
Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Eggebrecht reported seeing alcoholic beverages in the car when he stopped driver, Ross Eads, 29, of Pool Road. The stop happened on State Road 46 just after 3 a.m.
Eggebrecht reported that Eads also had slow speech, that his eyes were glossy, his manual dexterity was impaired and that he had unsteady balance. A breath test showed his blood-alcohol content to be 0.10, more than the legal limit of 0.08.
He was charged Aug. 7 with three misdemeanors for driving while intoxicated.
Man transported to hospital after stop
A Brownstown man faces a misdemeanor charge in Brown County after police reported finding him intoxicated on the side of State Road 46.
After 11 p.m. July 28, dispatch received a report of a suspicious man at the intersection of State Road 46 East and Hawthorne Drive, according to a probable cause affidavit by Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy William Pool. Police found Mark Butler, 29, alert but unresponsive on the side of 46. Pool’s report said he was standing in place and slightly swaying, with a set of car keys clenched in his right hand.
Pool reported Butler’s left hand was clenched so tight that his knuckles were white, and that Butler was not answering any questions police were asking him, according to the affidavit.
An ambulance was called to the scene to check him out. Police identified Butler by finding his wallet in one of his pockets, the affidavit states.
Pool reported that deputies could smell alcohol on Butler and that his pupils were “very dilated.”
EMS decided to transport Butler to the hospital. While walking Butler to the ambulance cot, Pool reported that Butler took a few steps, bent over at his hips and let his knees go weak. Pool and Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Josh Stargell had to help him stand up. Butler made a “grunt noise” and began shaking his head no, but did not say anything, the affidavit said.
Butler then began to pull away from police, and Pool reported pulling out his stun gun, putting it to Butler’s chest and telling him he would be tased if he didn’t follow directions.
Pool and Stargell were able to get Butler secured to the cot and he was taken to Indiana University Bloomington Hospital for being unresponsive.
Butler was charged with a Class B misdemeanor public intoxication on Aug. 8.
Sober driving campaign set to begin this month
Local police are participating in the national Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization beginning this month. From mid-August through the Labor Day holiday, police will be out looking for impaired drivers.
Residents should expect to see an increase in sobriety checkpoints and police patrols.
“Why are we giving drivers a heads up? Because Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is all about preventing impaired-driving crashes, injuries and deaths,” Nashville Police Chief Ben Seastrom said in a press release. “Our officers have zero tolerance for impaired drivers on our roads, and we’ll see you before you see us.”
Overtime patrols are supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funds distributed by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.
Local police recommend these alternatives to impaired driving:
Designate or be a sober driver.
Use public transportation.
Call a cab or ride-sharing service.
Download the SaferRide cellphone app.
Celebrate at home or place where you can until sober.
Offer non-alcoholic beverages and plenty of food at parties.
Never provide alcohol to minors.
Ask young drivers about their plans.
Take keys and make alternate arrangements for friends or family members who are about to drive.
Police also encourage people to report impaired drivers. If you see an impaired driver, turn off the road away from the vehicle and call 911. Signs of an impaired driver include driving at a very slow speed, braking erratically, making wide turns, swerving or straddling the center line and turning abruptly or illegally.
