BEDFORD — A Mitchell woman was taken into custody on Wednesday, June 17th, following a traffic stop on State Road 37 that uncovered illegal drugs, prescription violations, and major driving offenses.
Kathy J. Wilkerson, 70, of Mitchell, was arrested by the Bedford Police Department. She faces preliminary charges of possession of a legend drug, possession of marijuana, operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator, and violation of conditional driving privileges.
The incident began on June 17 when Bedford Police Dispatch issued a “be on the lookout” (BOLO) alert for a dark gray Jeep Cherokee traveling northbound on State Road 37 from the US 50 West junction. Dispatchers notified patrol units that the vehicle’s registered owner was wanted on an active arrest warrant.
Sgt. Toby Gerkin spotted a vehicle matching the description near the intersection of State Road 37 and 39th Street. After turning around to trail the Jeep, Sgt. Gerkin confirmed the license plate and identified a female driver at the wheel. He then activated his emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop near Patrick Robbins Way.
Upon approaching the vehicle and speaking with the driver, identified as Wilkerson, Sgt. Gerkin reported detecting the distinct odor of marijuana emitting from the interior of the Jeep.
While verifying the active arrest warrant, dispatch informed officers that Wilkerson’s driving status was classified as a habitual traffic violator. Wilkerson presented documentation to Sgt. Gerkin showed she had been granted conditional driving privileges and claimed she was en route to a physical therapy appointment at Harvest Health. However, a review of the paperwork revealed it did not grant her specific permission to travel to that location.
Once the arrest warrant was fully confirmed, Wilkerson was placed into handcuffs.
Before her Jeep was towed from the scene by Bland’s Wrecker Service, officers conducted a standard vehicle inventory. Inside the center console, Sgt. Gerkin uncovered a clear plastic bag and a black plastic bag, both containing a green, plant-like substance.
A field test of the plant material yielded a positive result for marijuana. The total weight of the recovered marijuana, including packaging, was logged at 38 grams.
Wilkerson was transported to the Lawrence County Jail for booking. During a secondary intake search at the facility, Officer Brooking located a plastic pill bottle containing a variety of miscellaneous pills in Wilkerson’s possession.
A preliminary identification of the medication revealed 16 pills of duloxetine hydrochloride, an antidepressant that is classified as a “legend drug” under Indiana law (prescription-only, but not a controlled substance). An INSPECT prescription monitoring report was completed at the jail, confirming that Wilkerson did not hold a valid, legal prescription for the medication.
The bottle also contained eight unidentifiable pills, which were seized and placed into evidence. Officers confirmed Wilkerson had legitimate prescriptions for the remaining medication in the bottle, and those pills were returned to her personal property at the jail.
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.
