BEDFORD — A Corydon man was arrested Wednesday night after Indiana State Police responded to a welfare check involving a man reportedly yelling at passing vehicles along a Bedford roadway.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Indiana State Police Trooper Caroline Roberts, Jonathan Deaton, 37, was arrested on a preliminary charge of public intoxication, a Class B misdemeanor.
Roberts reported she was dispatched at about 8:41 p.m. July 29 to the area of the 100 block of Oolitic Road after receiving reports of a man wearing dark clothing who was yelling at passing vehicles, waving his arms and making obscene gestures.
According to the affidavit, Roberts located Deaton about a half-mile south of the reported location. Police said Deaton was standing near the roadway with an electric scooter, yelling, waving his arms and swaying while having difficulty maintaining his balance.
The affidavit states Deaton admitted he had been drinking and showed Roberts several empty alcohol containers from his backpack. Roberts also reported detecting a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and observing that he had poor coordination, slurred speech and difficulty maintaining his balance.
According to the affidavit, officers took Deaton into custody because of concerns he could step into traffic while walking or operating the scooter.
Police transported Deaton to the Lawrence County Jail, where a preliminary breath test reportedly showed a result of 0.294. Due to the reading, Deaton was taken to IU Health Bedford for medical clearance before being returned to the jail.
The affidavit states Deaton was verbally combative with law enforcement officers, hospital staff and jail personnel during the incident.
Deaton was booked into the Lawrence County Jail on the preliminary charge of public intoxication. Formal charges will be determined by the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office.
Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
