BEDFORD– An Oolitic woman is facing a felony charge after a traffic stop on Wednesday, November 6, and subsequent field sobriety tests indicated impairment.
Heather Daugherty, 36, was arrested on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction.
At approximately 7:15 p.m. on November 6, Trooper Caroline Harding of the Indiana State Police was in the area of Lincoln Street in Bedford when she saw a Bedford Police Officer, Landon Jones, conducting a stop with a female suspect. Officer Jones had requested assistance, as the Bedford Police Department’s canine had alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle Daugherty was driving.
Trooper Harding approached Daugherty, who appeared unsteady on her feet and displayed signs of nervousness and jitteriness. Based on her observations and training, Trooper Harding suspected impairment and asked Daugherty to submit to field sobriety tests, which she agreed to. She failed those tests.
A portable breath test showed no alcohol in her system, but a Sotoxa saliva test was positive for cocaine and amphetamine.
Daugherty agreed to a blood draw. The blood sample was taken at IU Health Bedford; the results are pending.
Daugherty was arrested and taken to the Lawrence County Jail.
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.
