BEDFORD – A Bloomington man is facing numerous charges, including Operating While Intoxicated (OWI), after police say he was found to be impaired and in possession of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and hydrocodone. The arrest followed a traffic stop initiated after an officer observed a vehicle weaving on State Road 37.
According to an affidavit of probable cause from the Bedford Police Department, Officer Steven Hatton Jr. was off duty on September 21 when he saw a vehicle repeatedly cross the right fog line. He initiated a traffic stop and identified the driver as Robert J. Breedlove, 46, of Bloomington.
Breedlove, who had slurred speech, claimed his vehicle was “messed up,” causing him to swerve. He denied drinking alcohol since 2005 and told police there was nothing illegal in his vehicle. However, after a drug recognition expert (DRE) was called to the scene, Breedlove failed a series of field sobriety tests.
A search of his vehicle, conducted with Breedlove’s permission, reportedly uncovered several items:
- A blue Altoids container with a cut straw and a small baggie of a crystal-like substance.
- An orange prescription pill bottle with a different name on it, containing five and a half white pills identified as hydrocodone.
Upon being questioned, Breedlove reportedly admitted to having a “meth pipe” in his pocket, which police found wrapped in a red bandana. The crystal-like substance found in the vehicle and on the pipe later tested positive for methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Breedlove was transported to the Bedford Police Department, where a DRE evaluation was conducted. The evaluating officer concluded that Breedlove was impaired on both a central nervous system stimulant and a narcotic analgesic and was unable to operate a vehicle safely. A SoToxa test also yielded positive results for narcotics, methamphetamine, and amphetamine.
Breedlove was taken to IU Health, where a blood sample was collected. He was then transported to the Lawrence County Jail on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, OWI endangerment, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a narcotic drug.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the Probable Cause Affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
