BEDFORD — A 29-year-old Owensboro, Kentucky, man was arrested in Lawrence County after a chaotic series of events involving a stolen vehicle, a damaged residence, and a failed attempt at a Valentine’s Day gesture.
Johnny Ward was arrested on Friday evening, February 13th, following a police response to a residence on Locksley Court.
The investigation began around 6:20 p.m. when a woman reported that her ex-boyfriend, Ward, had stolen her 2019 Chevy Trax earlier that afternoon. When Officer Augustus Hogan of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office arrived, he found Ward and the female standing behind the reported stolen vehicle.
The female victim informed officers that Ward had just returned and had allegedly forced his way into her home by busting through the front door frame while the deadbolt was active.
Upon questioning, Ward admitted to taking the vehicle, claiming the female had given him permission days earlier so he could buy her flowers for Valentine’s Day. Officers did observe flowers in the open trunk of the Chevy Trax. However, Ward further admitted that after taking the car, he picked up his father and went to a local restaurant where he consumed “multiple pitchers of beer.”
During the investigation, Officer Hogan noted a “heavy presence of alcohol” emitting from Ward. Despite his admission of drinking and driving, Ward agreed to undergo standardized field sobriety tests. The results indicated severe impairment.
A preliminary breath test at the scene showed a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.219%. A later certified chemical test at the Bedford Police Department recorded a BAC of 0.166%, more than double the legal limit.
A background check revealed that Ward has a prior conviction for operating a vehicle while intoxicated from November 2021 in Grayson County, Kentucky. Due to this prior history, the current OWI charge has been elevated to OWI with a prior conviction, residential entry, and vehicle theft.
Ward was transported to the Lawrence County Jail. Officers noted that Ward currently resides at a men’s warming shelter and does not have a valid driver’s license.
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.
