BEDFORD – A Shoals man was arrested on Friday, January 24, after being stopped for a traffic violation in Bedford.
According to an affidavit from Officer Taylor Daugherty of the Bedford Police Department, the incident occurred at approximately 11:50 p.m. when Officer Daugherty observed a gray 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage failing to signal a right-hand turn at Norton Avenue and John Williams Boulevard. The vehicle was also observed weaving within its lane. Officer Daugherty activated his emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of John Williams Boulevard and John Williams Crossing.
Upon contacting the driver, Jerry Luna, 54, of Shoals, Officer Daugherty noted the strong odor of alcohol from the vehicle. Luna’s speech was slurred, and his eyes appeared glossy and bloodshot. When asked about his alcohol consumption, Luna stated he had just left Shorty’s Bar & Grill.
After confirming Luna’s identity and the vehicle was a rental, Officer Daugherty asked Luna to perform standardized field sobriety tests. Luna agreed, and during the tests, he showed signs of impairment, including failing to maintain balance and missing key instructions. Luna also displayed physical signs of intoxication, such as swaying and stepping off the line during the walk-and-turn test.
A preliminary breath test showed Luna had a blood-alcohol level of 0.134 percent, above the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Luna was arrested and transported to the Lawrence County Jail on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, OWI endangerment, and operating a vehicle with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08.
According to the affidavit, Luna was cooperative throughout the process.
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.
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