BEDFORD – A Springville woman was detained on alcohol charges Wednesday, March 6, after Bedford Police Officer Landon Jones responded to Spirits on John Williams Boulevard after a report of a gray van being improperly parked in front of the store.
The driver of the van was 50-year-old Janelle D. Helms.
Police noticed damage to the van’s front bumper. She told police she was attempting to park and stated she pressed the brake, but the vehicle accelerated forward and struck the concrete pillar.
While speaking with Helms, Officer Jones detected the odor of alcohol. Helms’ eyes were glassy, and her speech was slurred.
When asked if she had been drinking, Helms replied, “Not much at all.”
Helms failed several field sobriety tests. She blew 0.093 on a preliminary breath test.
She was detained on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and OWI endangerment.
An employee at Kindred Spirits told police she was inside the store when Helms drove into the concrete pillar, shaking it. She said the van was on the sidewalk and against the building.
An AT&T employee told police she, too, saw Helms drive onto the sidewalk and strike the building. She then witnessed Helms back the van up, exit her vehicle, and examine the damage.
Helms was transported to IU Health Bedford Hospital for a blood draw and then to jail on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and OWI endangerment.
The van’s owner arrived at the scene and took possession of the vehicle.
