BEDFORD – A Bedford man was arrested after he was involved in an accident on January 26, 2024.
Police arrested 22-year-old Gabriel Conn on charges of leaving the scene of an accident and being a habitual traffic violator.
According to Bedford Police Officer Taylor Daugherty, on January 25 at 2:14 p.m., officers were dispatched to John Williams Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue after a report of an accident with a vehicle leaving the scene.
The caller told police that a male was driving a black Ford Escape, hit the driver’s side of her vehicle, and then proceeded to travel north on Lincoln Avenue.
When police arrived, they spoke to the caller, who told police she had video of the vehicle that hit hers and the male driver.
The woman told police she was traveling east in the far right lane on John Williams Boulevard. She was beginning to turn south at the roundabout on Linolcn Avenue when a male driving a black SUV merged into her lane and hit the front passenger-side bumper.
She followed the vehicle to the east side of the roundabout before it came to a complete stop. After stopping, the male approached her, and she showed him the damage to her vehicle. He said he would give her $20 for the damage. She told the male there was more than $20 worth of damage, and she was calling the police. The male got back into his car and drove off.
Police completed an accident report and began looking for the male driver.
Due to the male wearing a Lineal Contracting sweatshirt, police contacted the company owner and advised him of the situation to see if he could help identify the male driver. He said the male was not an employee, but he would be able to contact someone who might be able to identify the male.
Bedford Police Detective Shelhart believed the male might be Gabriel Conn.
Lineal Contracting called back and said the male Gabriel Conn was working at Manchester Tank on X Street and would leave work around 3:30 p.m.
Police went to Manchester Tank and found a black Ford Escape in the parking lot. Police stopped Conn as he was leaving work, but he kept walking. When asked again to stop, Conn did so.
The officer told Conn they had video of him leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Police say Conn became obnoxious and stated he was not involved in an accident. Again, the officer asked Conn to explain what happened, and he got “loud and obnoxious.” Conn was asked several times to “calm down.”
Detective Shelhart arrived on the scene. Police learned that Conn was a habitual traffic violator. Conn said he was not driving the vehicle but was a passenger.
Police again explained to Conn that they had a video of him exiting the vehicle and approaching the female driver. In the video, Conn is heard offering the woman $20 to pay for the damage. Again, Conn denied the allegations and said he had no reason to turn south on Lincoln Avenue.
A co-worker told police he and Conn were heading to Circle K on Lincoln Avenue to get a drink. Police say Conn and his co-worker began switching their stories.
Conn finally admitted he was driving and was merging to the right lane on John Williams Boulevard before heading into the roundabout and colliding with the other vehicle.
Police then learned that the co-worker also had a suspended driver’s license. Both men said they would walk home and were released from the scene. Conn was told the information would be forwarded to the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office. A warrant was issued for Conn’s arrest.
