MITCHELL – A Mitchell man was arrested on a warrant after police say he was found driving intoxicated on August 19, 2023.
Police arrested 40-year-old Jonathan Herald on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated on a controlled substance, OWI, and OWI endangerment.
According to Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Lonnie Johnson, on August 19, at 9:09 a.m., officers responded to a cash on Mill Creek Road involving a pickup truck and horse and buggy.
When Sgt. Johnson arrived, he spoke to Herald and his father. Sgt. Johnson said Herald appeared intoxicated. He had slurred speech and was hard to understand.
“We were both coming over the, over the, over the thing there, and we was both on like, I think he was on my side. He’s trying to say I was in his side and we collide,” Herald said.
Sgt. Johnson said Herald was hard to understand, had bloodshot eyes, and appeared to be under the influence of something.
He was asked if he had been drinking, and Herald said no. He told police he was getting ready to go fishing.
When asked if he had taken any illegal substances, he said no. When asked if he used Suboxone, he said yes but hadn’t taken any that day.
The Amish driver, Joe Stutsman, told police that Herald was driving too fast and on the wrong side of the road. He told police Herald had asked not to call the police, but Stutsman refused that request. Two children were in the buggy at the time of the crash.
A witness to the crash confirmed Stutsman’s statement on how the crash happened.
No one was injured in the crash.
Deputy Josh Rhoads arrived to assist.
When Herald was asked if he was on the wrong side of the road, he shook his head and said, “I am
not hundred percent positive, I thought I was on my side.”
Herald failed several field sobriety tests. Officers searched the truck but found no illegal substances.
Herald was transported to IU Health Bedford Hospital for a blood draw. It was sent to the Department of Toxicology for testing. Those tests revealed Herold tested positive for THC, 7-Aminodonazepam, Alprazolam, and Clonazepam.
Herald was asked to provide a list of prescription medications on August 11, 2023. He had no valid prescription for any of the drugs found in his system.
The information was forwarded to the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
