BEDFORD — A 51-year-old Bedford man faces charges of operating while intoxicated after being pulled over for an expired license plate on July 17, according to court documents filed by the Bedford Police Department.
Sam D. Gilbert was taken into custody on Friday evening after officers suspected impairment following a series of field sobriety tests, a drug recognition evaluation, and a search warrant for a blood sample.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Officer Steven Hatton Jr., the incident began around 5:05 p.m. near 18th and L Streets. Officer Hatton spotted a red Ford Escape turn south onto Mitchell Road and then execute a series of quick turns onto 20th Street, N Street, and back onto 18th Street after the officer pulled behind the vehicle.
After noticing the vehicle had an expired license plate, Officer Hatton initiated a traffic stop. Gilbert claimed he turned around to head toward the BMV before realizing he could renew his plates online, and later stated he was intending to take out his trash before deciding to head back home.
While gathering Gilbert’s information, Officer Hatton noted that Gilbert was visibly shaking and had a lit cigarette in his center console cup holder. When asked why he was nervous, Gilbert stated he had just purchased packaged THC gummies from a store on the square.
After returning from running Gilbert’s information, which showed a valid driver’s license but an expired vehicle registration. Officer Hatton observed that Gilbert had lit a second cigarette, a tactic often used to mask odors or cope with nervousness.
Gilbert granted permission for officers to search both his vehicle and his person. He subsequently admitted to consuming a THC gummy roughly 10 to 15 minutes before driving.
Officers administered multiple standardized field sobriety tests and advanced roadside impairment driving enforcement evaluations, which Gilbert failed.
Gilbert declined to take a SoToxa oral fluid drug screen and was placed in handcuffs. However, he agreed to undergo a Drug Recognition Expert evaluation at the Bedford Police Department. Following the evaluation, Officer Haluda, a certified DRE, concluded that Gilbert was impaired by a central nervous system stimulant and unfit to operate a vehicle safely.
When Gilbert refused a chemical test under Indiana Implied Consent, Officer Hatton requested a search warrant for a blood draw. Judge Gouty granted the warrant at 7:14 p.m.
Gilbert was transported to IU Health Bedford, where a registered nurse collected two vials of blood at 7:57 p.m. for submission to the Indiana State Department of Toxicology.
Gilbert was issued a citation for operating with an expired registration and transported to the Lawrence County Jail for booking. His vehicle was inventoried and towed from the scene by Stone City Collision.
He faces charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated on drugs and OWI.
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.
