MITCHELL – John W. Hall, 62, of Mitchell, was arrested on January 18, 2025, on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated after a suspicious incident at a local gas station.
At approximately 10:32 a.m., Officer Garrett Jacobs of the Mitchell Police Department responded to a report of a suspicious person at the Marathon Gas Station located at 3966 State Road 37. A witness had observed Hall drinking in his vehicle, prompting the call to law enforcement. Upon arrival, Officer Jacobs made contact with Hall, who initially denied consuming alcohol, claiming he was drinking a soda. However, when asked to show what he was drinking, Hall admitted to drinking beer and produced an open beer can from his vehicle.
Hall consented to a preliminary breath test (PBT) to determine his blood alcohol content (BAC). After some difficulties obtaining a reading, Jacobs requested assistance from fellow Officer Cody Blackwell. Despite multiple attempts, the PBT results remained inconclusive, prompting the officers to request a blood draw kit from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department.
Mitchell Police Officers, including Jacobs and Grogan, then conducted field sobriety tests (SFSTs) on Hall, which revealed further signs of intoxication. Hall showed several clues of impairment including an inability to maintain balance, an improper number of steps, and swaying. Based on these results, Hall was placed under arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
After being read the implied consent warning, Hall agreed to submit to a blood draw, which was conducted at IU Health in Bedford, IN. Although a final PBT showed a BAC of .085, the blood test results are still pending.
Hall was transported to the Lawrence County Jail and is currently facing charges for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
The investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement officials are awaiting the results of Hall’s blood test to determine the final charges.
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