BEDFORD— A Bedford man was arrested Monday evening on charges of operating while intoxicated (OWI) and neglect of a dependent after a traffic stop revealed he was driving under the influence with his juvenile daughter in the vehicle.
According to a report from the Bedford Police Department, Officer Jones was on patrol near 6th Street and W Street at approximately 7:23 p.m. when he observed a blue 1994 Lincoln Town Car with an expired Illinois license plate. The vehicle, driven by Ryan E. McFarland, failed to stop at a stop sign at the 6th Street and X Street intersection, prompting Officer Jones to initiate a traffic stop.
Upon making contact with McFarland, Officer Jones noted signs of impairment, including slurred speech and red, glassy eyes. McFarland stated he had recently purchased the vehicle and had not yet registered it. A female juvenile, later identified as McFarland’s daughter, was in the back seat.
Officer Hatton arrived to assist while McFarland’s information was processed. McFarland was asked to exit the vehicle, at which point Officer Jones detected the odor of alcohol on his breath. When questioned, McFarland initially denied consuming alcohol but later admitted to drinking one beer approximately five hours before the stop.
McFarland agreed to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs), including the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), Walk and Turn (WAT), and One-Leg Stand (OLS). He performed poorly on HGN and WAT. A preliminary breath test indicated a blood alcohol concentration (BrAC) of 0.104%. Indiana Implied Consent was read to McFarland, and he consented to a certified chemical breath test.
McFarland was arrested and transported to the Bedford Police Department, where Officer Hatton conducted a certified breath test using an Intox EC/IR-II device. The test confirmed McFarland’s BrAC at 0.101 g/210L of breath. His girlfriend arrived at the scene and took custody of their daughter, while a neighbor, with consent, transported the vehicle to their apartment.
McFarland was then transported to the Lawrence County Jail, where he was remanded on charges of OWI, OWI-Endangerment, and Neglect of a Dependent.
Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
