BEDFORD – A Bedford man was arrested early Monday morning on a felony driving charge after a police officer observed him drifting across lanes on State Road 37.
Mark C. Withers, 24, was taken into custody on January 19 by the Bedford Police Department on a preliminary charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) with a prior conviction.
At approximately 1:56 a.m., Captain Max Uebelhoer was patrolling 5th Street when he spotted a silver Mitsubishi turning onto northbound State Road 37. According to the probable cause affidavit, the vehicle drifted over the center line twice, with both driver’s side tires fully entering the left lane before correcting. The officer also noted the vehicle’s license plate had expired in December 2025.
Upon stopping the vehicle, Capt. Uebelhoer reported a strong odor of alcohol and noted that Withers’ eyes were “red, glassy, and bloodshot.” Withers reportedly admitted to consuming “a couple of beers” a few hours earlier.
While a preliminary breath test (PBT) showed a result of .068 BrAC—below the legal limit of .08%—officers on the scene noted that Withers appeared significantly more impaired than the numbers suggested.
Officer Haluda was called to the scene to conduct a battery of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. According to her supplemental report, Withers struggled with several exercises.
During this secondary testing, Withers reportedly changed his story, admitting he had consumed between two and five “Twisted Teas” throughout the night. A second PBT later resulted in a .071 BrAC.
Following the field tests, Withers was transported to IU Health Bedford Hospital for a certified blood draw.
A background check revealed that Withers has a previous conviction for “driving under the influence” out of Putnam County, Florida, dating back to January 2023. Under Indiana law, a prior OWI conviction within a specific timeframe can elevate a new OWI charge to a higher level of offense.
Withers was transported to the Lawrence County Jail for housing. His vehicle was impounded by Stone City Collision.
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.
