BEDFORD — A former 28-year-old Martin County 911 dispatcher is facing criminal charges in Lawrence County following a late-night crash that snapped a utility pole and left a trail of property damage along Rabbitsville Road.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Deputy C. Pruett of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, authorities responded to a single-vehicle accident at approximately 3:28 a.m. on August 23, 2025.
Upon arrival, deputies discovered a tan 2000 Toyota Corolla in a ditch on the east side of Rabbitsville Road, just north of Woodville Road. The vehicle had sustained heavy front-end damage, and its airbags had deployed.
The investigation revealed that the vehicle had struck and broken a Duke Energy utility pole, destroyed a mailbox at 897 Rabbitsville Road, and damaged a fence at 1086 Rabbitsville Road. Despite the clear weather and dry road conditions, the driver, identified as Justin P. Minton of Bedford, reportedly lost control of the vehicle.
Deputy Pruett reported finding Minton sitting on the damaged mailbox near the scene. Minton initially claimed he swerved to avoid a deer, leading to the crash.
However, during the interaction, the Deputy noted several signs of intoxication, including slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, unsteady balance, and difficulty retrieving identification from his wallet.
According to the affidavit, Minton identified himself as a 911 dispatcher for Martin County and admitted to consuming approximately five to six shots of tequila at a bar in Mitchell prior to getting behind the wheel.
While Minton declined medical treatment at the scene, he consented to a chemical test. A preliminary breath test conducted by deputies yielded a result of 0.226% BAC—nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08%.
Following a transport to IU Health Bedford for a formal blood draw, toxicology results returned on November 7, 2025, confirmed a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.246%.
Based on the investigation and forensic results, the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department requested a warrant for Minton on the following charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He was detained on February 10.
According to the Martin County Sheriff’s Department, as soon as they learned Minton was wanted on a warrant he was terminated from his dispatcher position.
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.
