BEDFORD — A Bedford man was taken into custody early Thursday morning after a Lawrence County Sheriff’s deputy observed him allegedly driving left of center and attempting to avoid police contact.
Nickolas A. Banks, 35, faces preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, OWI endangerment, and driving while his driver’s license was suspended with a prior conviction.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Captain Harrison Fleetwood, the incident began at approximately 12:07 a.m. on February 26. Captain Fleetwood was patrolling south on R Street when he began following a silver 2008 Jeep Liberty.
The officer noted that the vehicle made a series of quick turns through side streets and an alleyway. The movements the captain described were consistent with an attempt to avoid police contact. After the Jeep emerged back onto R Street and turned onto 16th Street, Captain Fleetwood observed the vehicle cross the center line into the opposite lane of travel, prompting a traffic stop in the Pizza Hut parking lot.
Upon making contact with the driver, Banks reportedly blamed the lane deviation on “alignment issues.” However, Captain Fleetwood noted the odor of an alcoholic beverage on Banks’ breath. Banks allegedly admitted to consuming approximately three beers.
During the interaction, Banks became “visibly frantic,” stating he was going through a difficult time and did not want to go to jail. He also admitted to the officer that his driver’s license was currently suspended.
Despite a recent ankle injury, Banks agreed to perform standardized field sobriety tests, which he failed. A portable breath test administered at the scene confirmed the presence of alcohol.
Banks consented to a chemical test and was first transported to the Bedford Police Department for a certified breath test, but he was unable to provide a sufficient sample. He was then taken to IU Health Bedford for a blood draw, the results of which are currently pending analysis by the Indiana State Department of Toxicology.
Following the medical procedure, Banks was transported to the Lawrence County Jail. The vehicle was released to a relative at the scene.
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.
