A 28-year-old Bloomfield man found himself behind bars Oct. 23 after leaving the scene of an accident and driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol content of .252 percent.. 

Colt Michael McDaniel was arrested by Linton Police Department Officer Alan Jackson Oct. 23 on preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person with a prior conviction within 7 years, operating a vehicle with alcohol concentration equivalent to .15 percent or more, operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent of .15 percent  or more when the defendant has a prior conviction, and leaving the scene of an accident, driver fails to immediately stop at the scene. 

Officer Jackson was dispatched to Taco Bell in regards to an automobile accident where he found a 2010 black Dodge Charger with heavy front end passenger side damage. McDaniel was located in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. At first McDaniel denied hitting anything with his vehicle stating his vehicle has been damaged for a couple weeks; however, due to the scrape on the asphalt from the damaged front passenger wheel, it was apparent McDaniel driventhe vehicle to Taco Bell. This scrape on the asphalt, according to the probable cause affidavit, lead from the front passenger wheel on the vehicle, through the Taco Bell parking lot, back to A Street Northeast.Jackson wrote in the probable cause affidavit that it was visible the scrape came from the west.. When Jackson pointed out the scrape on the asphalt, McDaniel said he was sorry for causing it. 

While talking with McDaniel, Officer Jackson detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from him and asked if he’d had anything to drink. McDaniel denied consuming any alcohol. After failing a field sobriety test, he admitted to drinking alcoholic beverages at the Vault in Linton before driving his vehicle. He said he had not consumed any alcohol since he had the accident. 

During a search of the vehicle, Jackson located unopened and empty beer cans in the backseat of the vehicle.

A chemical test showed McDaniel’s breath alcohol content at .252 percent. Due to the high intoxication level, he was transported to Greene County General Hospital to be medically cleared before being transported to Greene County Jail. 

Deputy Michael Stanley of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department contacted Officer Jackson in regards to a parked vehicle on East Vincennes Street that had been struck by another vehicle. It was believed to be the vehicle McDaniel hit. Stanley took photos of the damaged vehicle as well as the vehicle owner’s information. 

After McDaniel was booked into Greene County Jail, Jackson returned to Linton to the scene of the Vincennes Street address. He followed scrape marks in the asphalt, which led him to the Taco Bell parking lot. 

McDaniel’s  bond was set at $8,000 surety with 10 percent cash allowed. He posted $800 and was released later the same day.

McDaniel will appear in Greene Superior Court Nov. 3 for an initial hearing where he will be formally charged with: 

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A Misdemeanor

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person with a prior conviction within 7 years, a Level 6 Felony

• Operating a vehicle with alcohol concentration equivalent to .15 or more, a Class A Misdemeanor

• Operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent of .15 or more when the defendant has a prior conviction, a Level 6 Felony

• Leaving the scene of an accident, driver fails to immediately stop at the scene, a Class B Misdemeanor