BEDFORD — A local man already out on bond for pending criminal charges was jailed early Monday morning after police found him heavily intoxicated, stumbling in the roadway with an electric bicycle on the city’s north side.
Danny J. Lankford, 52, of Bedford, was arrested by the Bedford Police Department on May 25, 2026. He faces a preliminary misdemeanor charge of public intoxication.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Bedford Police Officer Sarah Haluda, emergency personnel were dispatched to the area of Bandana’s Bar on 5th Street at approximately 12:55 a.m. A concerned citizen had called 911 to report finding a male lying flat on the ground in the middle of the road, who appeared to be drunk and may have crashed a bicycle.
Upon arriving at the scene, Officer Haluda located the suspect, later identified as Lankford, stumbling through the street while pushing an E-bike into the bar’s parking lot.
Officer Haluda noted that Lankford smelled heavily of alcohol, was highly unsteady on his feet, and was entirely unable to communicate effectively without constant redirection. When questioned, Lankford openly admitted to police that he had been drinking heavily.
Lankford told officers he was leaving the Green Mill Lounge, located on the south end of town near his H Street residence, and was trying to make his way home. However, police noted he could not explain why or how he had traveled to the exact opposite end of the city from his house.
IU Health Lifeline EMS arrived at the scene to evaluate Lankford for potential injuries from the reported spill. He checked out fine medically and declined further treatment. He agreed to leave his electric bicycle at the property under the temporary care of the bar’s owner.
Lankford’s level of impairment made it impossible for officers to complete field testing at the scene. According to the affidavit, Lankford attempted to provide a preliminary breath sample but was physically unable to do so because he could not remain standing.
Officer Haluda had to physically assist Lankford to the rear of her patrol unit because he had leaned backward over the hood of the police car and lacked the balance to pull his own torso back up.
Lankford was transported to the Lawrence County Jail, where staff successfully administered a certified chemical breath test. The test revealed Lankford had a breath alcohol concentration of 0.225%, nearly three times the legal driving limit of 0.08%.
Court records transferred to the jail logs indicate that Lankford was already free on bond for separate, pending criminal charges at the time of Monday’s incident. He was remanded into the custody of the Lawrence County Sheriff.
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.
