Woman found passed out in vehicle at a car wash

MITCHELL – A Bedford woman was arrested Wednesday, on drug charges when Mitchell Police officers were summoned to the Hoosier Express Auto Wash on West Main Street after a report of a woman slumped over the steering wheel of a white Ford Escape. 

When police arrived at 9:34 p.m. they found 44-year-old Christina Atkins inside slumped over the steering wheel with the vehicle still running.

Christina Atkins

They also detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

An officer opened the driver’s door and attempted to wake Atkins and turned off the running vehicle. 

Atkins told the officers “she was just tired from working a lot”.

She was asked to step out of the vehicle and was detained. 

In plain view, officers saw the burnt end of a marijuana cigarette on the passenger floorboard. Along with two other burnt marijuana cigarettes.

While searching the vehicle police located a small plastic container with crystal meth residue inside and another metal container in her purse that contained crystal meth residue. 

A prescription pill bottle that contained marijuana was found in the center console and two small containers of marijuana were found in her purse.

In Atkins’ jacket pocket, she handed police a white pill wrapped in plastic. She then reached into her shirt and pulled a small plastic bag, containing two grams of meth, out of her bra.  

Atkins was detained on charges of possession of meth, possession of marijuana, and possession of a legend drug.

Stone City Service & Collision Center towed the vehicle.

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