BEDFORD — A Bedford man is facing multiple criminal charges following a pre-dawn traffic stop Tuesday that led to the discovery of narcotics and evidence of impaired driving.
Jonathan T. Amabile, 27, was arrested on March 3, 2026, after Bedford Police Officer Clay Blackburn initiated a stop near John Williams Boulevard and Williams Crossing at approximately 3:24 a.m.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Officer Blackburn observed Amabile’s gray 2007 Chevrolet Malibu traveling with its high beams on, failing to dim them for oncoming traffic. The officer also noted a white light illuminating from a broken passenger-side tail light.
Upon making contact with Amabile, the officer reported that the driver spoke in a “low and slow tone.” During a subsequent safety check, Amabile reportedly handed over a pair of brass knuckles and eventually admitted to having contraband.
A search of a translucent box found on Amabile’s person revealed:
- A cut plastic straw containing crystal-like residue.
- A used hypodermic syringe.
- An aluminum cap containing white residue and a rubber tie-off.
- A vial of naloxone.
Field tests on the syringe, straw, and cap yielded positive results for methamphetamine. According to police records, Amabile admitted the items would test positive and stated he had used the drug earlier that morning.
Officer Haluda arrived on the scene to conduct an operating while intoxicated (OWI) investigation. While Amabile reportedly told officers he did not feel impaired, police say he performed poorly on several Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, nearly falling over during the “walk and turn” portion.
A further Drug Recognition Evaluation (DRE) was conducted at the Bedford Police Department. Officers reported that Amabile struggled to stay awake during the exam despite having elevated vital signs. The evaluating officer determined Amabile was impaired by a central nervous system stimulant and was unsafe to operate a vehicle.
Amabile consented to a chemical blood draw at IU Health, the results of which are pending analysis from the Indiana State Police Laboratory.
Amabile was remanded to the Lawrence County Jail on the following preliminary charges: possession of meth, unlawful possession of a syringe, possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a common nuisance, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Police noted that Amabile has at least one prior documented incident involving illegal narcotics in the same vehicle in 2023. A passenger in the vehicle was detained during the search but was later released.
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.
