MITCHELL — A Louisville man is facing multiple operating while intoxicated and drug possession charges after a multi-agency traffic stop on State Road 37 revealed he was allegedly driving while heavily under the influence of alcohol and marijuana.
Manuel Sandino, 43, of Louisville, Kentucky, was arrested late Friday night, May 15, 2026. He faces preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated (BAC above .15%), operating while intoxicated endangering a person, possession of marijuana, and possession of paraphernalia.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Mitchell Police Officer Blackwell, the incident began at approximately 10:28 p.m. when Mitchell officers were contacted by a Deputy Marshal from the Orleans Police Department regarding a possible intoxicated driver traveling northbound on State Road 37 toward Lawrence County.
The Orleans Deputy reported that the vehicle had come to a stop directly on the highway, prompting him to initiate an immediate traffic stop at the intersection of State Road 37 and Parks Implement Road.
Upon arriving to assist, Officer Blackwell approached the passenger side of the vehicle. He immediately observed multiple alcoholic beverages on the passenger floorboard, smelled a strong odor of alcohol, and spotted a rainbow-colored glass smoking pipe in plain view.
Sandino was ordered out of the vehicle and detained. During a pat-down search, officers noted a strong odor of marijuana coming from his waistband and discovered a dense lump in his front pocket. When asked what it was, Sandino reportedly admitted it was “weed.”
While standing by the patrol car, investigators noted Sandino’s eyes were extremely red and glossy.
According to the affidavit, Sandino unprompted told officers he had been smoking marijuana and drinking earlier. After being provided his Miranda rights in both Spanish and English, Sandino confessed that he had opened a beer in the car just before police pulled him over, spilling it across the floorboard when he threw the bottle down in a panic upon seeing the police emergency lights.
A subsequent search of the vehicle by Mitchell Assistant Chief Kuhlman and Sergeant Jacobs uncovered an open container of partially consumed Bacardi rum, multiple Heineken beer cans, and additional marijuana.
Officers attempted to conduct standardized field sobriety tests on the scene. Despite a language barrier, officers administered the horizontal gaze nystagmus eye test. Sandino failed all six indicators of the test, struggling severely to maintain his balance and constantly swaying. Due to his extreme lack of balance and communication difficulties, further physical tests were called off. Police noted that Sandino was also unable to properly provide a breath sample for a portable breath test.
Sandino agreed to a chemical blood draw and was transported to IU Health Bedford, where a hospital translator assisted investigators.
While at the hospital, Sandino allegedly told officers that he “always drinks after work” and claimed a friend had assured him there were no police patrolling the area before he started his commute. Sandino further claimed to the medical staff that he only had a short distance left to travel.
However, investigators countered his claim, noting that Sandino’s phone map function was active during the initial stop and showed he still had over an hour left in his drive. Sandino reportedly responded that because he had his hazard emergency lights turned on, it was safe for him to drive slowly.
The following items were confiscated from the scene and processed into evidence:
- Approximately 20 grams of marijuana
- A rainbow glass smoking pipe with burnt residue
- An electronic vape device containing suspected THC oil
Sandino was medically cleared and booked into the Lawrence County Jail.
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.
