BEDFORD – A Bedford man is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including possession of methamphetamine and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, following a police investigation into a hit-and-run crash.
Nathan Haynes, 33, was arrested early Saturday morning after police located him driving the truck allegedly involved in the accident.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Trooper Logan McDowell of the Indiana State Police (ISP), Trooper McDowell and Trooper Mackenzi Alexander had been investigating a recent hit-and-run crash near Peerless Road involving a black 2020 Ram 1500 pickup truck. Initial investigation suggested that the registered owner, Edward Haynes, was the driver and that he was wanted on a Lawrence County warrant.
At approximately 3:30 a.m. on November 21, Trooper McDowell, Trooper Alexander, Deputy Porter, and Captain Fleetwood visited the Peerless Church Road address and spoke with the homeowner, Lisa Haynes. She stated she was divorcing Edward Haynes and noted that her son, Nathan Haynes, had been driving the vehicle lately.
Shortly after leaving the residence, Deputy Porter spotted the Ram 1500 traveling toward the Peerless Church Road address. Trooper McDowell followed the truck as it pulled into the driveway.
Trooper McDowell approached the driver, identified as Nathan Haynes. Upon exiting the vehicle, Haynes was described as “very unsteady, almost falling.”
During questioning, Trooper McDowell noted that Haynes was sweating profusely despite the cold night, had pinpoint and bloodshot eyes, and could not maintain balance. Haynes initially denied drinking alcohol or taking illegal drugs but agreed to take a preliminary breath test (PBT), which was negative for alcohol.
While performing standard field sobriety tests, Haynes was observed to miss heel-to-toe on the walk-and-turn test. He later admitted to Trooper McDowell that he had used methamphetamine from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. that evening.
Haynes agreed to a blood draw at IU Health in Bedford. Before the hospital visit, a SoToxa test was administered, which returned positive results for amphetamines and stimulants.
During the booking process at the Lawrence County Jail, jail staff conducted a strip search and located a black bag in Haynes’s undergarments containing approximately eight grams of a white substance and more needles.
A subsequent inventory search of the Ram 1500, which was towed from the scene, revealed additional evidence:
- Syringes were found in plain view near the passenger floorboard.
- Two straws containing a white substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
- A prescription bag for a legend drug that did not belong to Haynes.
All substances and drug paraphernalia have been stored as evidence and will be sent to a lab for official analysis.
Based on the evidence collected, Nathan Haynes was formally charged with the following offenses: possession of meth, trafficking with an inmate, unlawful possession of a syringe, OWI endangerment, OWI, possession of a legend drug, and possession of paraphernalia, and was transported to jail.
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.
