BEDFORD – A Campbellsburg woman was arrested Saturday evening on multiple charges, including operating a vehicle while intoxicated, possession of methamphetamine, and driving while suspended, following a suspicious driving complaint and subsequent traffic stop.
According to affidavits for probable cause filed by Officers Steven Hatton Jr. and Officer Haluda of the Bedford Police Department, Officer Hatton observed a silver Chevrolet Traverse on State Road 37 and 39th Street driving slowly with hazards on and a line of vehicles behind it around 5:53 p.m. The vehicle then suddenly turned onto 35th Street when the driver noticed the patrol vehicle.
Officer Hatton later observed the same vehicle driving evasively on Washington Avenue, pulling into and backing out of a driveway. A license plate check revealed the owner, identified as 50-year-old Christy D. Burman of Campbellsburg, had a suspended driver’s license with a prior suspension. Officer Hatton initiated a traffic stop at 29th Street and Washington Avenue.
Upon contact, Burman, identified by her Indiana Identification Card, provided the vehicle’s registration but stated she did not have her driver’s license. She claimed she was having car trouble and was on her way to a clinic for a foot injury.
Officer Haluda arrived as backup and noted Burman’s voice was low and raspy, her face seemed “extremely” relaxed, and she “rambled when questioned” about drug use. Burman consented to Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) which she failed.
During the SFSTs, Officer Bell arrived with K9 partner Castiel, who gave a primary alert to the odor of narcotics in Burman’s vehicle. A probable cause search was then conducted. Officers located an Altoids container in a fanny pack on the driver’s seat, which contained a folded white paper with a white crystal-like substance, a multi-color cut straw, a black cut straw, a small Dick’s Sporting Goods card, and a teal hair clip. A second multi-color cut straw was found in the fanny pack. The white crystal-like substance and residue on the straws and container all field-tested positive for methamphetamine. An orange/blue pill bottle with a partially torn label containing one unknown white oval pill was also found. Officer Hatton noted that the methamphetamine was found in Burman’s purse, which was on her lap.
Burman initially denied knowing the methamphetamine was in her vehicle, suggesting it might have been there from before a previous jail stay. After being read her Miranda warnings, Burman, who stated she was on probation for prior drug charges, agreed to a Drug Recognition Evaluation (DRE) and a SoToxa oral fluid screen after initially declining.
Officer Haluda, a certified Drug Recognition Expert, conducted a full DRE at the Bedford Police Department. Her opinion was that Burman was impaired by a Central Nervous System Stimulant and unable to operate a vehicle safely. Burman consented to a chemical blood test, with two vials of whole blood collected at IU Health at 8:47 p.m.
Christy Burman was transported to the Lawrence County Jail for housing.
She faces preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, OWI per SE, OWI endangerment, possession of meth and drug paraphernalia, and driving while her driver’s license was suspended with a prior conviction.
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.
