BEDFORD – A Mitchell woman was arrested on alcohol and meth charges after being found sleeping in the car.
Miranda L. Abel, 35, was arrested on Thursday, February 13, on charges of operating while intoxicated (OWI), possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Bedford Police Officer Derek Blackwell, police were dispatched to a local gas station at approximately 8:30 a.m. regarding a woman asleep in a vehicle. Upon arrival, officers found Abel asleep in the driver’s seat of a running vehicle.
After waking Abel, officers noted her red and glossy eyes. Abel consented to a search of her vehicle and agreed to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. Officer Blackwell reported that Abel showed signs of impairment during the tests.
During the vehicle search, officers located a clear bag containing a substance that later field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Abel was then handcuffed, at which point she informed officers she had a glass smoking device, which was also found to contain burnt residue, in her coat pocket.
Abel consented to a blood draw, was read her Miranda warnings, and was transported to IU Health Bedford Hospital for the procedure. She admitted to smoking methamphetamine and taking Suboxone within the past 24 hours. Abel was then transported to the Lawrence County Jail.
Her vehicle was towed, and the blood draw kit was sent to the Indiana State Department of Toxicology for analysis.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
