BEDFORD – A Mitchell man was arrested Sunday night on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction, according to the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department.
Authorities say deputies responded to a report of a vehicle stopped near the intersection of Pumphouse Road and Ball Road. A passerby had alerted dispatch about a man inside the vehicle who appeared to be asleep.
When officers arrived, they found a vehicle stopped in the roadway with a single occupant in the driver’s seat. The driver was initially unresponsive and had to be awakened by deputies. Police reported signs of intoxication, including slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and difficulty maintaining balance.
The driver, identified as 42-year-old Johnathon Herald of Mitchell, allegedly admitted to consuming alcohol before the encounter. A preliminary breath test indicated a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit.
Herald was taken into custody at the scene. After initially consenting to a blood test and later withdrawing that consent, a warrant was obtained to complete the test at IU Bedford Hospital.
He was later transported to the Lawrence County Jail without incident. Formal charges include operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction.
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.
