BEDFORD — A routine traffic stop for a minor infraction quickly escalated into a felony investigation after a Bedford woman allegedly admitted to driving while smoking an illegal substance, according to a Bedford Police officer.
Ashlyn M. Godsey, 37, was arrested on November 20, and booked into the Lawrence County jail on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, possession of marijuana and driving while her driver’s license was suspended. The probable cause affidavit, filed by Officer J. Landon Jones, details a sequence of events, including multiple field sobriety tests and a positive drug test result for both cannabis and amphetamines.
The incident began at approximately 3:51 p.m. when Officer Jones observed a tan Nissan Altima on 5th Street at N Street. A check of the Indiana license plate, led the officer to identify the driver as Godsey and confirm her license was suspended.
When Officer Jones initiated a traffic stop near 17th Street and H Street, Godsey confirmed her identity and reportedly acknowledged the license suspension, stating she knew she should not have been driving.
The situation took a turn when, before handing over her vehicle registration, Godsey allegedly volunteered the information that her vehicle smelled like marijuana. Officer Jones confirmed the odor. Godsey then allegedly confessed that she was smoking a THC vape while operating the vehicle just moments before being pulled over.
Due to the admission and the odor, Officer Jones requested a Drug Recognition Expert, Officer Haluda, to the scene to administer standardized field sobriety tests which Godsey failed.
Godsey agreed to a Sotoxa test, which returned positive results for cannabis and amphetamines. When questioned about the positive stimulant result, she allegedly admitted to taking half of an Adderall earlier in the day. She does not have a prescription for the drug.
Godsey consented to a certified chemical test, and two vials of whole blood were drawn by a phlebotomist at IU Health Bedford for toxicology analysis. The THC pen found in the vehicle was field-tested and yielded a positive for marijuana.
Following the evidence gathered from the traffic stop and testing, Godsey was placed into custody. The two vials of blood were packaged for shipment to the Indiana State Department of Toxicology.
Officer Jones concluded that there was probable cause to believe Godsey committed the crimes of OWI, possession of marijuana, and an infraction of driving while her driver’s license was suspended. She was transported and booked into the Lawrence County 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.
