BEDFORD – A Bedford man was arrested Friday evening after witnesses reported him stumbling and falling at a popular local gas station.
Christopher J. Terry, 59, of Bedford, was taken into custody on January 16 and faces charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction and public intoxication.
The incident began at approximately 6:26 p.m. when Bedford Police were dispatched to Hoosier Pete’s at 2729 Mitchell Road. A witness alerted dispatch to a male in a white Toyota Sequoia who appeared severely impaired. The witness reported seeing the man throwing up, stumbling through the parking lot, and even falling down.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed by Officer J. Landon Jones, the witness also observed the man drinking from a whiskey bottle inside the vehicle before parking at the gas pump.
Upon arrival, Officer Jones observed Terry walking away from the driver’s side of the running SUV. The officer noted that Terry was “very unsteady on his feet.” During their interaction, officers reported a strong odor of alcohol emitting from Terry, slurred speech, and glassy eyes.
Terry reportedly admitted to officers that he had consumed a “small” cocktail of whiskey and Mountain Dew earlier in the day but denied drinking while driving. However, a subsequent search of the vehicle by police uncovered an open bottle of Jim Beam behind the center console, a fountain drink containing alcohol, and an open 2-liter bottle of Mountain Dew in the passenger seat.
Due to his level of impairment, Terry was unable to safely perform standard field sobriety tests. He did, however, submit to a preliminary breath test (PBT), which yielded a .145% —nearly twice the legal limit.
Officer Jones noted that Terry was previously convicted of operating a vehicle while intoxicated in November 2025, less than two months prior to this incident. Because of this recent conviction, the current OWI charge is enhanced.
Terry was transported to IU Health for a certified blood draw and medical clearance before being booked into the Lawrence County Jail. Security footage from the gas station is being recovered as part of the ongoing investigation.
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.
