MITCHELL — A Sellersburg man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon after multiple witnesses reported a vehicle driving erratically on Highway 60 East, nearly striking other motorists before veering off the road.
Matthew R. Dorsett, 44, faces multiple misdemeanor charges after a certified chemical test revealed a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) more than four times the legal driving limit.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Lawrence County Sheriff’s Deputy Austin McKinley, emergency dispatchers received a call at approximately 3:53 p.m. regarding a grey Audi Q5 swerving “egregiously” across the fog and center lines. Witnesses, including a motorcyclist following the vehicle, reported that the Audi eventually pulled off the roadway into a grass plot in front of the Mitchell VFW, nearly hitting another car in the process.
Mitchell Police Officer Cody Grogan was the first to arrive on the scene, where he found Dorsett slumped over in the driver’s seat.
When Lawrence County deputies arrived, they noted a strong odor of alcoholic beverages coming from Dorsett. The affidavit describes Dorsett as “struggling profoundly” to hold up his own weight, requiring two officers to physically support him to prevent him from falling.
Due to his high level of impairment, officers determined it was unsafe for Dorsett to perform physical field sobriety tests. However, a horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) test was conducted while officers held him upright. Dorsett reportedly exhibited 6 out of 6 possible “clues” of impairment, as well as vertical gaze nystagmus.
Dorsett was transported to the Lawrence County Jail, where a certified chemical breath test was administered. The results showed a .348 BAC, significantly higher than the Indiana legal limit of .08.
Due to the extreme level of intoxication, jail policy required that Dorsett be medically cleared before being admitted. He was transported to IU Health Bedford, where he allegedly admitted to medical staff that he had been driving before pulling into the grass. After being cleared by doctors, he was returned to the jail for processing.
Dorsett has been charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a BAC of 0.15% or higher, OWI endangerment, and public intoxication.
The vehicle was moved to the VFW parking lot, and the keys were held at the Mitchell Police Department after authorities were unable to reach an emergency contact.
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.
