Report of possible intoxicated driver lands man in jail

BEDFORD—A Bedford man was arrested on Monday, March 24, after officers responded to a report of an impaired driver.

Floyd T. Cox, 64, of Bedford, faces charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction and OWI endangerment.

Cox had a prior OWI conviction in 2019.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed by Officer Sarah Haluda, Bedford Police Department officers received a “be on the lookout” alert for a male in a red Ram pickup truck who was reportedly impaired. The 911 caller stated that they had observed Cox urinating on himself outside of Kindred Spirits on John Williams Boulevard before driving away.

Officers located the unoccupied vehicle in the parking lot of Big Red Liquors on 16th Street. Officer Haluda observed Cox approach the vehicle, stumble around it, and enter the driver’s seat. Cox then left the parking lot and turned south onto Becky Skillman Way.

Officer Haluda initiated a traffic stop, but Cox continued into the McDonald’s parking lot, pulling into the drive-thru. Officer Haluda had to instruct Cox to roll down his window.

During the interaction, Officer Haluda noted that Cox had urinated on himself, exhibited slurred speech and glassy eyes, and smelled of alcohol. Cox initially denied drinking but later admitted to having one beer. He was unsteady on his feet and had his pants’ fly was open.

Cox declined to perform standardized field sobriety tests but agreed to a preliminary breath test, which yielded a result of 0.154 blood-alchol level. He refused to submit to a chemical test after being advised of Indiana’s Implied Consent law.

Cox was placed under arrest and transported to the Bedford Police Department, where a warrant for a blood draw was obtained. At 8:45 p.m., Judge Nathan Nikirk granted the warrant. Cox was then taken to IU Health Bedford Hospital, where blood was drawn at 9:46 p.m. Cox was then taken to Lawrence County Jail.

Police inventoried Cox’s vehicle, and Stone City Collision towed it.

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.