An area basketball coach was arrested on March 13 in Shelby County for the second time in three months on alcohol-related charges.

Joseph Hart, 50 of Linton, was arrested in Shelbyville on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated while endangering a person. Hart is the head boys’ basketball coach at Linton-Stockton. Hart appeared in Shelby County Superior Court on March 14 and was released from jail after posting bond.

Per a statement from Linton-Stockton School Corporation Superintendent Dr. Kathy Goad, “Linton-Stockton High School Boys Basketball Coach, Joey Hart, has been suspended indefinitely. Assistant Coach Noah Hawkins will take over the head coaching duties immediately and until further notice. This will be the only statement released by the school corporation or persons within the school and basketball program on this action, as we are bound by policy on discussing personnel matters."

Lt. Bart Smith of the Shelbyville Police Department responded to a 911 call of a possible impaired driver traveling east on West State Road 44. The caller described the vehicle as being all over the roadway, crossing the center line, and swerving.

Lt. Smith located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. According to an incident narrative written by Smith, he could smell an overwhelming odor of alcohol coming from Hart’s vehicle. In addition, in plain view was an open cup — similar to one from a fast food restaurant — with a gold-colored liquid inside. The cup, containing a liquid that resembled beer, did not have a lid on it. After fumbling around in his pockets and wallet, Hart was eventually able to provide his identification to the officer.

“I asked the male where he was going and he said he was going to Clay City. I asked where he was coming from and he said Indianapolis. He then asked me, “where am I?”. I asked Joe if he knew what city he was in and he said he thought he was in Clay City. I advised him that was incorrect and told him he was in Shelbyville. It was apparent that Joe had obviously taken a wrong turn,” Smith wrote.

Hart allegedly admitted to drinking a few beers earlier in the evening. Smith observed Hart’s eye as red and watery, his speech as slurred, and his balance as poor. When asked to exit the vehicle to conduct a field sobriety test, according to the officer’s narrative, Hart began to mess with his phone and reach around inside the vehicle. Smith asked several times for Hart to exit the vehicle; he finally complied. Standing outside the vehicle, Smith wrote that Hart’s balance was very poor.

Smith asked Hart to submit to a standard field sobriety test, which he refused. He also refused a portable breath test and a chemical test.

“Joe kept telling me he screwed up and cost his team now from playing in the semi-state,” Smith wrote.

Smith said he reminded Hart of the consequences of refusing the tests, to which Hart allegedly said he understood but still refused. Due to the refusals, a search warrant was applied for and granted for a chemical blood test.

The witness driving behind Hart told Smith via telephone that Hart’s vehicle crossed the center line numerous times. The caller told Smith when a car would pass in the opposite direction, Hart would cross the center line, swerve hard to the right, and cross over the shoulder. When approaching Shelbyville Middle School, the caller told Smith that Hart had his left turn signal on but turned right, nearly striking another vehicle. When Hart pulled into the Clearview Addition, the caller told Smith he was driving down the center of the road. The caller alleged there were several “close calls” and he thought Hart was going to cause an accident.

Hart was transported to a local hospital for a chemical blood draw. The results of that draw are pending.

“Joe was cordial and cooperative throughout the incident and was upset and concerned he may lose his job and may have cost his team an opportunity to play in the semi-state basketball tournament this weekend,” Smith wrote in the narrative.

The interaction between Hart and Det. Smith was recorded through Watchguard Video.

Hart appeared in Shelby County Superior Court on March 14

This is the second alcohol-related arrest for Hart in three months. Hart was arrested in Clay County on Dec. 31 on a public intoxication charge. At that time, he was placed on administrative leave and served a six-game suspension before being able to return to coaching.