BEDFORD – A Bedford man was arrested early Saturday morning for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, marking his second such offense.
The arrest occurred on Sunday, January 12, following an observation by Bedford Police Sergeant Trevor Shelhart, who had probable cause to believe that Dayson Seth Wright, 22, of Williams, was driving under the influence.
While patrolling the area of 5th and M Streets, Sgt. Shelhart observed Wright’s red 2011 Chevrolet Silverado driving erratically. As Wright’s vehicle approached the 6th and M Streets intersection, the truck came to an unusual stop despite no stop sign for southbound traffic. Sgt. Shelhart noted that the vehicle remained stationary with its brake lights on for an extended period.
Upon stopping behind the vehicle, Sgt. Shelhart spoke with Wright, who explained that his driver’s side window would not roll down. Wright indicated that he was waiting for his mother to arrive and move the vehicle to prevent it from being hit in the parking lot. Wright also admitted to having recently left Bandana’s Bar & Grill, where he had been drinking. Officers detected the odor of alcohol emanating from Wright and the vehicle.
Officer Daugherty arrived to assist and began administering standardized field sobriety tests to Wright. Wright failed those tests.
Wright was then asked to take a preliminary breath test, which returned a positive result for alcohol. After receiving his Miranda warning, Wright agreed to take a certified chemical breath test at the Bedford Police Station. The test showed a blood alcohol content of 0.134, well above the legal limit of 0.08.
Further investigation revealed that Wright had a prior conviction for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, with the conviction on December 20, 2023. As a result, Wright was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction and OWI with a blood alcohol level of greater than 0.08.
Wright was taken into custody and transported to the Lawrence County Jail. His vehicle was secured and left parked near 6th and M Streets.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
