BEDFORD — An Ohio man was arrested Tuesday evening after a state trooper initiated a traffic stop for speeding and discovered a passenger in his vehicle had an active protective order against him.
Carson Hartman, 22, of Monroe, Ohio, was booked into the Lawrence County Jail on a misdemeanor charge of invasion of privacy.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Indiana State Police Trooper Caroline Roberts was patrolling near John Williams Boulevard and R Street around 6:35 p.m. when she spotted a silver Jaguar driving faster than surrounding traffic and weaving between lanes. Trooper Roberts also noted that the vehicle’s temporary registration tag was crumpled and unreadable.
Trooper Roberts conducted a traffic stop on O Street. Upon identifying Hartman as the driver, routine checks revealed that he was subject to an active protective order. The passenger in the vehicle was confirmed to be the protected individual.
When questioned, Hartman claimed he believed the protection order—which stemmed from a prior domestic dispute in Ohio—had been dropped, though he could not provide proof. He also told the trooper that the passenger had been temporarily living with him.
A Bedford police officer arrived at the scene to assist. Hartman was taken into custody without incident, and the passenger, who was a licensed driver, was permitted to take possession of the vehicle.
Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
