BEDFORD— An Indianapolis man was arrested early Tuesday morning on suspicion of operating while intoxicated (OWI) after being stopped for speeding on State Road 37. Authorities later discovered the man had an outstanding warrant in Tennessee.
According to Bedford Police Department reports, Officer Manke was conducting radar enforcement near State Road 37 Southbound and 5th Street at approximately 2:16 a.m. when he observed a silver passenger vehicle traveling at 80 mph. The driver entered a left-turn lane before abruptly changing lanes and continuing southbound, prompting Officer Manke to initiate a traffic stop near John Williams Boulevard.
The driver, later identified as Dalton Davis, was accompanied by two passengers. Upon making contact with Davis, Officer Manke noted the odor of alcohol on his breath, slurred speech, and glassy eyes. Davis admitted he was returning from Bloomington but would not specify his exact location.
Officer Turner arrived to assist, and all three occupants were asked to exit the vehicle. Davis was subjected to three Standardized Field Sobriety Tests: the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), Walk and Turn (WAT), and One-Leg Stand (OLS). He exhibited multiple signs of impairment, including lack of smooth pursuit, swaying, and difficulty maintaining balance.
After refusing a chemical test, Davis was arrested and advised of his Miranda rights. When officers attempted to place him in the patrol vehicle, he refused to enter and had to be physically secured inside. Officer Turner transported Davis to IU Health Hospital, where a blood draw was conducted at 4:16 a.m.
A background check revealed that Davis did not have a valid driver’s license but held an Indiana identification card. Dispatch was unable to retrieve information from Tennessee due to system issues; however, a subsequent check through NCIC and IDACS confirmed Davis was wanted on a warrant out of Robertson County, Tenn.
Davis was transported to the Lawrence County Jail and faces charges including OWI, OWI Endangerment, and OWI Per Se pending blood test results. His vehicle was towed to Stone City Collision. Authorities confirmed the outstanding warrant and included it in the case file.
Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
