BEDFORD — A Paoli woman was arrested and is facing a felony charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) with a prior conviction following a traffic stop for a malfunctioning brake light on Monday afternoon.
Sophia L. Roberts, 41, of Paoli, was taken into custody on Monday, October 20, after a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) evaluation suggested she was impaired, according to an affidavit filed by the Bedford Police Department.
The incident began at approximately 4:24 p.m. when Officer Steven Hatton Jr. was patrolling the area of 16th and O Streets. Officer Hatton observed a white Dodge Nitro with only the “third” brake light working and initiated a traffic stop at 16th and S Streets.
Upon speaking with the driver, identified as Sophia Roberts, Officer Hatton noted that she appeared “extremely nervous” and was “physically shaking” while providing her license. Roberts told the officer she was nervous because she couldn’t figure out why she was stopped, even after being informed of the brake light issue.
Roberts consented to a search of her vehicle. During the search, Officer Hatton located three empty “fireball” liquor bottles in her purse on the back floorboard and a partially consumed fireball bottle behind the driver’s seat. Roberts initially stated she had consumed the empty bottles the night before and had not been drinking that day.
Roberts consented to standardized field sobriety tests, which she failed.
After the tests, Roberts submitted to a preliminary breath test, which yielded a negative result for alcohol. She declined to take a SoToxa roadside drug test.
Officer Haluda, a certified drug recognition expert (DRE), was called to the scene. Roberts consented to the DRE evaluation, which was completed at the Bedford Police Department. The DRE concluded that Roberts was impaired on a central nervous system stimulant and was unable to operate a vehicle safely.
Roberts was advised of Indiana’s Implied Consent law, but refused to submit to a chemical test. Officer Hatton then successfully obtained a warrant for her blood from Judge Robert Cline at 6:59 p.m.
Roberts was transported to IU Health Bedford Hospital, where two vials of whole blood were collected at 7:25 p.m. for submission to the Indiana State Department of Toxicology.
A records check confirmed that Roberts had a prior conviction for operating while intoxicated on April 17, 2019, elevating the current charge to a felony level.
Roberts was transported and lodged at the Lawrence County Jail. Her vehicle was secured and parked at a nearby location.
