BEDFORD – A Bedford man was arrested early Friday morning on charges of operating while intoxicated (OWI) and OWI endangerment, after his vehicle was observed driving significantly under the speed limit with hazard lights on.
David W. Newport, 32, of Bedford, was taken into custody on Sunday, June 27.
According to an affidavit for probable cause filed by Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department Captain Harrison Fleetwood, he was patrolling eastbound on State Road 58 East just west of Shandell Drive at approximately 12:02 a.m. He observed a gray Ford Fusion traveling westbound at approximately 23 miles per hour in a 45-mile-per-hour zone.
Captain Fleetwood turned around to catch up to the vehicle, at which point it activated its emergency hazard lights and continued driving at a slow speed. Concerned for the driver’s welfare, he initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle turned onto Boyd Lane and came to a stop.
Upon approaching the vehicle, Captain Fleetwood found Newport in the driver’s seat and Lyndsay Buckles in the passenger seat, who was crying and breathing heavily. He observed two open alcoholic drinks in the cup holders and a strong odor of alcohol emanating from the vehicle.
A woman passenger admitted to drinking, stating the open drinks were hers. She then said she was having an asthma attack and located her inhaler, calming down. When asked if he had been drinking, Newport claimed he had just picked up the female from a bar and denied drinking. However, Captain Fleetwood noted Newport’s speech was slurred, and he could smell alcohol on his breath.
Newport agreed to perform Standard Field Sobriety Tests. Newport stopped following one of the tests and admitted, “I am going to be straight up honest; I have been drinking tonight. I have had about 4-5 beers and a couple of shots.” He then declined to complete the other tests, stating he had been drinking and would likely fail.
After being read the Indiana Implied Consent law, Newport agreed to a chemical test. He was transported to the Lawrence County Jail, where Officer Clifford Pruett administered a certified breath test. The test revealed a result of .195 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath, more than twice the legal limit.
During the certified breath test, Newport stated he had been at the bar with the female, drank a couple of beers and three shots of tequila, and was taking her home. He also claimed the “Mikes Hard’s” in his vehicle’s cup holders were his and that he had purchased them at Big Red Liquors before going to the bar.
Newport was then booked into the Lawrence County Jail for OWI and OWI endangerment. Newport’s mother later arrived to retrieve his vehicle.
A Probable Cause Affidavit outlines the initial findings and allegations that led to an arrest. Criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
