BEDFORD – A Bedford woman, Mariah E. Mills, 32, was arrested late Thursday night and faces multiple charges, including operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) with a controlled substance, OWI endangerment, and two counts of possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance. The arrest followed a traffic stop initiated by Bedford Police Officer J. Landon Jones.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed on Friday, April 25, Officer Jones was on patrol at approximately 10:45 p.m. on Thursday, April 24th, when he observed a light-colored GMC Yukon traveling south on O Street. The affidavit states that the Yukon crossed the double yellow line with its driver’s side tires and continued to drive in the middle of the roadway. The vehicle then made an abrupt swerve into the oncoming lane while turning onto P Street, nearly colliding with a concrete wall and fence.
Officer Jones initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of 22nd and P Streets. Upon approaching the vehicle, Officer Jones made contact with the driver, Mariah E. Mills. In the affidavit, Officer Jones noted that Mills’ speech was slow and slurred, and her movements were sluggish. He also reported that Mills exhibited poor manual dexterity while retrieving her license and registration.
Mills was asked to exit her vehicle and reportedly had to use the door for balance, which caused her to drop the items she was holding. When questioned, Mills stated she was coming from work and had just left a liquor store, denying alcohol consumption during her shift.
Mills consented to a search of her person, during which Officer Daugherty located a blue pouch in her apron pocket containing multiple pills identified by Mills as Xanax. Mills was then detained and advised of her Miranda Rights. She allegedly admitted to not having a prescription for the Xanax and stated she had taken “half a bar” earlier in the day.
After being read her Pirtle Warnings, Mills also consented to a search of her vehicle, which yielded no further evidence.
Officer Manke conducted standardized field sobriety tests. According to the affidavit, Mills had difficulty maintaining balance. Officer Jones noted Mills’ dilated pupils and eye fluttering during some of the evaluations.
Mills agreed to a Sotoxa test at the Bedford Police Department, which allegedly yielded positive results for CNS depressants and CNS stimulants. She also submitted to a blood draw at IU Health Bedford Hospital.
A search of the blue pouch found on Mills allegedly revealed 36 whole yellow pills imprinted with “R039” and 34 partial yellow pills, along with two blue, round tablets imprinted with “031”. These were identified as Alprazolam 2mg and Alprazolam 1mg, both classified as Schedule IV controlled substances.
Mills was medically cleared and subsequently transported to the Lawrence County Jail. Her vehicle was towed from the scene. The blood samples have been packaged for submission to the Indiana State Department of Toxicology, and the recovered pills were placed into evidence.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the Probable Cause Affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
