BEDFORD — A Bedford man was arrested Sunday afternoon after a report of a stolen scooter led police to discover a highly intoxicated individual allegedly harassing customers at a local grocery store.
Jonathan M. Deaton, 37, was taken into custody on March 15th and faces a preliminary charge of public intoxication.
The Bedford Police Department responded to a call at the Jay C Plus grocery store regarding a male claiming his scooter had been stolen. Witnesses reported that the man was staggering, appeared impaired, and was wearing a hospital bracelet. While officers were en route, dispatch updated that the subject had moved to the fuel center near 16th Street, where he was reportedly yelling at and harassing customers.
Officer Brian Sorrells arrived to find Deaton matching the description. According to the probable cause affidavit, Deaton was unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech, glassy eyes, and emitted a strong odor of alcohol.
Deaton claimed that after being released from the IU Health Emergency Department for mental health issues, he rode his scooter to the store and parked it with his backpack. He alleged that both items were stolen while he was at the fuel center.
However, a fuel center employee informed officers that Deaton had walked to the location from the west side of the parking lot and was never in possession of a scooter or a backpack. Deaton became argumentative when confronted with this information, demanding that officers review surveillance footage.
Officers discovered Deaton’s hospital discharge papers on the ground near his feet. The records indicated he had been admitted earlier that morning at 6:16 a.m. and treated for alcohol intoxication, kidney stones, and pain.
The records also confirmed Deaton had arrived at the hospital via a private vehicle, not a scooter.
Despite being offered a ride home multiple times due to his impairment, Deaton refused, eventually telling officers, “Just take me to jail”. He was arrested and transported to the Lawrence County Jail, where a portable breath test showed a breath alcohol concentration of .248, more than three times the legal limit.
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.
