MITCHELL – A Bedford woman was arrested Saturday afternoon on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated on a controlled substance and drug possession following a report of erratic driving on State Highway 37.
According to an affidavit for probable cause filed by Officer Cody Blackwell of the Mitchell Police Department, Sarah May Harris, 35, was arrested on charges of possession of a Schedule II, III, or IV controlled substance and OWI with a prior conviction.
On March 8, 2025, at approximately 2:54 p.m., Officer Blackwell was notified by Lawrence County Dispatch of a white Dodge sedan driving erratically southbound on State Highway 37. Officer Blackwell observed the vehicle swerving between lanes and initiated a traffic stop.
Upon approaching the vehicle, Officer Blackwell noticed the license plate was positioned at an odd angle in the rear window. Harris, the driver, told Officer Blackwell that she was tired and taking three medications that caused drowsiness. She claimed she did not have her prescriptions with her.
During questioning, Harris admitted to taking Klonopin, Olanzapine, and Lamictal. She said she knew she would be pulled over due to her driving. A preliminary breath test showed Harris had not been drinking.
While attempting to arrange for someone to pick up her vehicle, Harris stated that she had relapsed a few days prior and had used methamphetamine. A search of Harris’s purse revealed a prescription pill bottle, prescribed to a male, containing pills preliminarily identified as amphetamine/dextroamphetamine and Naloxone. Harris stated she was returning the pills to the man who had left them in her vehicle.
A K9 unit from the Bedford Police Department arrived and alerted to the vehicle’s passenger side. A subsequent search of the car yielded no further contraband.
Harris was transported to IU Health Bedford for a blood draw. The results of the blood test are pending.
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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