BEDFORD– A New Albany man was arrested after reports of an erratic driver on State Road 37.
Police arrested 23-year-old Levi C. Stephan on Monday, March 10, in Bedford on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and OWI endangerment.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Bedford Police Department Officer Sarah Haluda at 7:45 p.m., Bedford Police Officers were advised to look for a blue Toyota SUV headed south on State Road 37 from 5th Street. The caller reported that the male driver had brandished a firearm while attempting to pass him.
Officer Haluda observed a blue Toyota Highlander in the eastbound turn lanes near State Road 37 and 16th Street. The male driver leaned out the window and motioned at the officer.
Officer Haluda got behind the Toyota, and the driver quickly turned off 16th onto Plaza Drive and then into the Lowes parking lot, where he stopped in a parking spot. As the Toyota entered the Lowes parking lot, Officer Haluda activated her overhead emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop.
The driver, Levi Stephan, was ordered out of the vehicle and complied. Officer Haluda explained the reason for the stop. Stephan told the officer that the other driver had pulled a gun on him and that he had seen the driver go to a nearby gas station.
Officer Haluda observed that Stephan was nervous, making erratic movements, and appeared impaired. She smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath and person. When asked if he had been drinking, Stephan stated that he had been earlier in the day.
Stephan agreed to submit to Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, which he failed.
Stephan was advised of his Miranda Warning and told the officer that he had consumed two White Claws and a Buzz Ball. Stephan agreed to submit to a Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) and had a blood-alcohol level of 0.106. He was then advised of the Indiana Implied Consent law and agreed to a chemical test.
Stephan consented to a search of the vehicle. A black Glock 43 9mm was found in a soft holster in the passenger seat’s rear pocket. An open White Claw can was found in the driver’s side door pocket.
Stephan was transported to the Bedford Police Department, where a certified breath test was conducted at 8:39 p.m. Stephan provided a certified sample of .106 g/210L of breath. Stephan denied drinking while driving but could not explain why the White Claw can was open if he planned to drink it later. Stephan stated that he was delivering a grocery order for Instacart from Ellettsville to Bedford and had been following the other driver closely. He denied pulling a gun on the other driver.
Officer Jones transported Stephan to the Lawrence County Jail for housing. Stephan’s vehicle was left secured in the Lowes parking lot.
The original caller told Major Swanson that Stephan had attempted to pass him in the grass median on 37 South near Avoca. Stephan began speeding up and slowing down repeatedly before pulling beside the caller and displaying a firearm. The caller denied Stephan pointing the gun at him and stated that he called police and turned in the opposite direction as soon as he could to get away.
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.
