BEDFORD – A Mitchell woman is facing charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated following an arrest late Friday evening after a high-speed incident and a series of failed sobriety tests.
According to the Lawrence County Police Department, at approximately 11:04 p.m. on Friday, November 8, Deputy C. Pruett observed a dark-colored vehicle traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed on SandPit Road. Unable to obtain a radar reading due to the vehicle’s speed, Deputy Pruett followed the car as it continued through intersections and ultimately stopped near the 1100 block of Vinegar Hill Road.
The vehicle, a gray Nissan, was occupied by 24-year-old Kelsey D. Eisele of Mitchell. After approaching the car, Deputy Pruett observed several signs of impairment, including glassy eyes, slurred speech, and the strong odor of alcohol. Eisele told the officer she was unaware she had failed to stop at a stop sign.
During the investigation, Deputy Pruett noticed a can of alcohol in the driver’s door, as well as a brown paper bag in the passenger-side floorboard. Despite the evidence, Eisele denied drinking, claiming the can had been in her car for several days. She also requested that the officer not issue her a citation.
Field sobriety tests were conducted, and Eisele failed all three tests. Deputy Pruett administered a portable breathalyzer test, which returned a reading of 0.21, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.
Despite the clear evidence of impairment, Eisele continued to resist and became increasingly agitated. After refusing to allow the officer to adjust her handcuffs and pulling away during her transport to a patrol vehicle, Eisele was forcibly restrained, causing her to injure her nose and lip when she fell to the ground.
Eisele was transported to IU Health Bedford for a blood draw after she refused medical treatment for her injuries. She was later taken to the Lawrence County Jail on OWI charges. In addition to the OWI charge, Eisele was cited for disregarding a stop sign.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law
