SULLIVAN CO. – On Thursday, January 27th at approximately 2:15 p.m., Indiana State Police Sergeant Kris Fitzgerald was patrolling near County Road 900 North at County Road 200 East when he observed a male and three young children walking down the road attempting to flag down the traffic.
Sergeant Fitzgerald stopped to check on their welfare. The male stated that his vehicle was stuck and that they were walking home to Farmersburg.
Sergeant Fitzgerald immediately put the children, ranging in ages from six to eleven, in the backseat of his commission vehicle for warmth. The male subject, who was identified as 30-year-old Donald F. Barron, of Farmersburg, Indiana, took a seat in the front passenger side. While attempting to locate Barron’s vehicle, which was nearby, Sergeant Fitzgerald observed signs of impairment.
Barron was administered several field sobriety tests, in which he failed. Barron then submitted to a certified chemical test that showed he had a blood alcohol content of .15%. Barron was arrested and taken to the Sullivan County Jail where he is currently being detained on felony charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a passenger less than 18 years of age, neglect of a dependent, OWI with a prior conviction, and a misdemeanor charge of driving while his driver’s license was suspended.
The Sullivan County Department of Child Services was contacted in reference to the welfare of the three children.
Assisting in the investigation were Putnamville Trooper Andrew Mattern and the Sullivan County Department of Child Services.
