MITCHELL — An Orleans man was arrested late Sunday night following a traffic stop and brief vehicle pursuit in Mitchell that led to multiple charges, including operating while intoxicated and drug possession.
Timothy Allen Berda, 68, of Orleans, was taken into custody on November 8, 2026, by the Lawrence County Police Department.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Patrol Deputy Austin McKinley, deputies were monitoring traffic on State Road 37 just south of the Subway in Mitchell at approximately 11:18 p.m. on November 8 when they observed a grey 2016 Chevy Malibu traveling without a light illuminating its rear license plate.
Deputy McKinley initiated a traffic stop near Arby’s and activated his emergency red and blue lights as the vehicle approached the intersection of State Road 37 and State Road 60 East near McDonald’s. According to the report, the vehicle’s brake lights never illuminated. Deputies activated their sirens and, shortly after passing Dollar General, engaged their vehicle-equipped rumble sirens as the vehicle continued south without stopping.
The pursuit ended when the Malibu turned into the Country Mark Co-op parking lot, rolled to a stop, briefly started moving again to the opposite end of the lot, and finally parked.
After several minutes of delayed compliance, the driver—identified as Timothy Berda—opened the door and struggled to exit, requiring the driver’s door for balance. When instructed to walk backward toward officers, Berda stumbled and lost his balance multiple times.
Officers reported a strong odor of alcoholic beverages emanating from Berda. When questioned, Berda admitted to consuming two or three drinks earlier in the day. Standardized field sobriety tests were attempted, but officers discontinued them for Berda’s safety due to his inability to stand without assistance and an inability to track the stimulus. A portable breath test (PBT) yielded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.106%.
After reading Indiana’s implied consent law, officers transported Berda to IU Health Bedford, where a blood draw was performed at approximately 12:30 a.m.
During an inventory search of the vehicle, deputies recovered 43 whole white circular pills and seven halved pills bearing the imprint “B 20,” which were processed into evidence as suspected legend drugs.
Berda was transported to the Lawrence County Jail and booked on the following preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement by vehicle, OWI endangerment, OWI with a prior conviction, OWI per SE, and operating a vehicle while never licensed and possession of a legend drug.
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.
