BEDFORD — A late-night response to a distressed teenager turned into a runaway investigation Tuesday night after a local juvenile admitted to drinking, was cited and then immediately fled on foot from the police station parking lot.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Bedford Police Department Captain Max Uebelhoer, the incident began on June 9, 2026, at approximately 10:04 p.m. Officers were dispatched to a residence on I Street after a homeowner reported that a black female teenager wearing a black shirt had knocked on their door, claimed she was being followed, and then ran away.
A short time later, at 10:17 p.m., Captain Uebelhoer located a female matching the description near the intersection of 19th and I Streets. Upon being approached, the 17-year-old girl immediately admitted to the officer that she had been drinking alcohol. After a Portable Breath Test yielded a positive result for alcohol, the juvenile was detained and transported to the Bedford Police Department for processing.
The situation was complicated further when police contacted the teenager’s mother. The mother informed officers that she was currently residing in a sober living facility in Bloomington and could not pick up her daughter. Instead, she arranged for her older daughter to collect the juvenile.
The older sister arrived at the station, signed a promise to appear form on behalf of the mother, and the two girls exited the building.
However, the release was short-lived. Moments after they left the building, dispatch alerted officers that the juvenile had entered her sister’s vehicle, abruptly exited it, and fled the area on foot, running eastbound. Officers thoroughly combed the area and checked multiple potential destinations, but the teenager could not be located. A separate runaway juvenile report was generated.
The teenager faces a preliminary charge of juvenile delinquency for illegal consumption. She has been issued a promise to appear with Lawrence County Probation on July 1, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent until proven guilty through a fair and due legal process. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
