Springville man arrested after citizen reports his concerns

BEDFORD – A Springville man was arrested after a Bedford Police officer was flagged down at Dunham’s Sports Monday at 6:23 p.m. The person told police about a male driver’s behavior on State Road 37 and had followed the driver to Dunham’s Sports.

Dustin Abbott

The complainant told the officer the male, later identified as 34-year-old Dustin Abbott, had a child with him.

The officer located Abbott and the child inside the store.  Police say Abbott appeared to be intoxicated and was swaying as he was walking.

While speaking to Abbott the officer noticed that Abbott’s speech was slurred and he had poor manual dexterity. 

Abbott told the officer that a person had approached him in the parking lot when he arrived at the store and told him he “needed to find a ride home because he was all over the road.” 

The officer searched Abbott’s pockets and found a cylinder container that contained hydrocodone powder. Abbott said he was prescribed the medication but preferred to snort it. But when tested, it tested positive for meth. The officer also found two rocks of meth in Abbott’s pocket. In Abbott’s truck, the officer found a glass smoking pipe containing marijuana residue and a black container with a small amount of marijuana inside.

Abbott failed several field sobriety tests but was negative for alcohol use on a portable breath test.

A warrant was issued for a blood draw and Abbott was transported to IU Health Hospital.

Abbott admitted he had snorted hydrocodone around noon and then methamphetamine at approximately 2 p.m. Abbott was arrested on charges of neglect of a dependent, operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person under the age of 18, OWI endangerment, operating a vehicle while intoxicated on a controlled substance, possession of meth, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia.

If you know something, say something. Send an email to drugactivity@lawrencecounty.in.gov or call the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office tip line at 812-545-4700. All calls are confidential.