BEDFORD – A Heltonville man was arrested on February 23, 2025, following a rear-end collision at the intersection of 16th Street and M Street.
Caleb M. Blackburn, 25, was charged with operating while intoxicated with a prior conviction and OWI endangerment.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed by Bedford Police Sgt. Nicholas Crulo, Blackburn, driving a Honda Accord, admitted to being on his phone and attempting to select a song when he rear-ended a Chevy Equinox.
Sgt. Crulo noted Blackburn’s glossy eyes, slowed speech, and the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.
While running Blackburn’s information, dispatch informed Sgt. Crulo that the Honda Accord matched the vehicle description in a “Be On the Lookout” (BOL) alert. The BOL caller reported that the driver was driving erratically, hit a curb, and was suspected to be impaired.
A probable cause search of the vehicle, conducted by Officer Jones, revealed a grinder containing plant-like material, a THC vape cartridge, and a multi-colored pipe with burnt plant-like material. Blackburn, after being read his Miranda rights, admitted to using marijuana three times in the past two weeks. He denied being in the area of the erratic driver complaint.
Officer Jones conducted Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) and additional ARIDE tests (drug-impairment detection tests) on Blackburn. During the tests, Blackburn reportedly displayed signs of impairment, including lack of smooth pursuit in his eyes, difficulty with the walk and turn test, swaying and inability to maintain balance during the one-leg stand test, lack of convergence, and failure to place his finger to nose tests.
Blackburn consented to a chemical test and was transported to IU Health Bedford for a blood draw. The THC cartridge field-tested positive for marijuana. He was then taken to the Lawrence County Jail and remanded.
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.
