BEDFORD– A Bedford woman was arrested early Saturday morning for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and endangering others after a traffic stop revealed she was driving under the influence.
Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department Captain Harrison Fleetwood stopped Lydia J. Raines, 23, of Williams, just after 1:48 a.m. on March 8, 2025. Captain Fleetwood had been patrolling westbound on John Williams Boulevard in Bedford when he observed Raines’ red Chevy Tahoe swerving and nearly striking the curb multiple times.
After Raines made several turns and continued to veer off the road, Captain Fleetwood initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of State Road 58 East, Bedford. Upon approaching the vehicle, Captain Fleetwood noticed the odor of alcohol on Raines’ breath. When asked if she had been drinking, Raines admitted she had just left Shorty’s Bar and had consumed “a couple of mixed drinks.”
Captain Fleetwood then asked Raines to perform a series of Standard Field Sobriety Tests, which revealed several signs of impairment. Raines failed to follow instructions and exhibited physical signs of intoxication.
Raines agreed to submit to a certified breath test. Raines’s breath test results showed a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.127 grams per 210 liters of breath, well above the legal limit of 0.08.
In an interview, Raines admitted that she had consumed approximately 2 1/2 mixed drinks, although she had initially claimed to have only had a couple. She expressed regret, stating that she “probably should not have” driven, and acknowledged that she thought she could get away with it.
As a result, Raines was arrested and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and OWI endangerment, and transported to the Lawrence County Jail..
Raines’ vehicle was left at the scene, and she contacted her parents to arrange for its retrieval.
Lawrence County Officers Joshua Rhoades and Kyle Long assisted during the traffic stop.
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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