BEDFORD — An Oolitic woman was arrested on public intoxication charges last Tuesday after staff at a local medical facility raised alarms that she appeared to be heavily under the influence of drugs while accompanied by a juvenile.
Kayla Hobson, 33, of Oolitic, was taken into custody on May 12, 2026, following an incident at the Southern Indiana Pediatrics facility located at 1614 25th Street.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Bedford Police Officer A. Manke, officers were dispatched to the clinic at approximately 4:50 p.m. after receiving reports from concerned staff members who believed a mother inside the facility was intoxicated.
Upon arrival, officers interviewed the attending physician. In a recorded statement, the doctor reported that while speaking with Hobson and the juvenile, Hobson continuously “nodded off,” dropping her head completely to her chest. The physician stated that clinic staff had also observed Hobson slumped over and dozing off in the lobby while waiting to be seen.
Furthermore, the doctor told investigators he had witnessed Hobson in the business parking lot on multiple prior occasions, allegedly smoking unidentified substances inside her vehicle. The doctor noted that Hobson did not smell of alcohol and believed she was under the influence of narcotics. He also expressed concern for the accompanying juvenile, stating that the juvenile’s eyes failed to react normally when checked with a penlight.
A female employee at the facility corroborated the behavior, telling police she observed Hobson slumped asleep on the juvenile’s shoulder in the waiting area.
When confronted by Officer Manke, Hobson denied consuming alcohol or illegal drugs, attributing her lethargy to poor sleep and working long hours. However, investigators noted that her eyes appeared heavily dilated.
Hobson agreed to undergo standardized field sobriety testing on-scene. According to the affidavit, she exhibited signs of impairment during the tests.
Following the physical tests, Hobson initially agreed to submit to a preliminary breath test and a SoToxa oral fluid drug screening, but subsequently reversed her decision and refused to take either test.
After being read her Miranda warnings, Hobson maintained her denial of any drug use. She was placed under arrest and transported to the Lawrence County Jail for housing on a preliminary charge of public intoxication.
The juvenile was released at the scene into the custody of a grandmother. Due to the circumstances of the arrest, Bedford Police contacted the Department of Child Services (DCS) hotline to file an official report. Clinic staff permitted Hobson’s vehicle to remain parked on-site until family members could retrieve it.
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.
