BEDFORD – The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Worthington man on Tuesday, December 12, after they stopped him for a traffic violation.
James Gilmartin, 28, is facing charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangerment, possession of marijuana, and reckless driving.
A deputy was conducting a traffic stop on State Road 37, south of Patton Hill Road, when a small sedan-type vehicle approached quickly.
The officer, walking back to his patrol vehicle, activated his flashlight to alert the oncoming vehicle to his position. The vehicle failed to yield and approached the officer. The officer turned his flashlight on the windshield of the approaching vehicle to alert the driver to the officer’s position. In fear of being struck by the oncoming vehicle, the officer threw his flashlight at the passenger cowl area of the vehicle. The officer was stuck between his patrol vehicle and the oncoming vehicle, with nowhere to escape.
The vehicle then swerved, narrowly missing the officer. The vehicle then appeared to pull over on the shoulder of the vehicle. It then sped off, traveling south on State Road 37. The officer alerted fellow officers.
Another Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department deputy, with the assistance of Bedford Police officers, stopped the vehicle near the intersection of State Road 37 and John Williams Boulevard.
A Bedford Police officer reported the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.
The driver, James Gilmartin, was asked to leave his vehicle.
Bedford Police Sgt. Faheem Bade utilized his canine partner Zazu, who alerted officers to drugs in the vehicle. Police found a prescription pill bottle containing 1.9 grams of marijuana and rolling papers.
Police say Gilmartin appeared disoriented and smelled of marijuana. He failed several field sobriety tests. He submitted to a blood draw at IU Health Hospital. He was then transported to the Lawrence County Jail.
