Driver arrested when detectives investigate odd incident

When a concerned citizen alerted two detectives to an unusual situation on a highway in eastern Greene County, they drove to the area to investigate and ended up arresting a driver accused of OVWI.

James David Agnew

James David Agnew, 48, Floyds Knobs, Ind., was arrested by Detective David Elmore of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday, December 28.

Det. Elmore and Det. Shawn Cullison were at the Pinewood Convenience Store and Gas Station in the afternoon of Tuesday, December 28, when an unknown citizen approached Det. Elmore’s patrol vehicle and told him about a situation a few miles north on State Road 45. The citizen said there was a man standing outside his vehicle yelling at it. The citizen thought the man might be having a mental health issue. So the two detectives proceeded north and around 4:15 p.m., they came upon a gray 2017 Jeep Wrangler parked partially off the road and partially in the northbound lane of the roadway. It appeared as though a crash had taken place – with grass and mud in the northbound lane.

The Jeep was running. Agnew was identified as the driver who told the deputy a man was going to help him fix his flat tire and he was good. When asked about the damaged windshield that had cracks throughout, and the grass, mud and other debris all over it, Agnew appeared confused and said it was just stuff on there. Det. Elmore said it looked busted. Agnew said nope.

After another man came up to the Jeep and spoke to Agnew, Agnew drove his Jeep forward then turned the Jeep left, blocking both north and southbound lanes which caused other southbound vehicles to brake to avoid hitting the Jeep. Agnew then drove the Jeep into the southbound lane’s ditch.

When Det. Elmore approached the Jeep again, Agnew allegedly greeted him as if it was the first time they’d spoken. With Agnew showing signs of impairment, he was asked about possible alcohol consumption, prescription medication, medical issues and other substances. After lengthy questioning about his condition, a portable breath test showed he was over the limit of alcohol and he was transported to the sheriff’s department.

Agnew allegedly failed standard field sobriety testing conducted by Sgt. Jordan Allor at the sheriff’s department but agreed to take a chemical test. The results showed he had an alcohol concentration of .176. The legal limit is .08.

Agnew was booked into the Greene County Jail at 6:41 p.m. with bond set at $4,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed.

A couple of hours later, Det. Elmore was notified by jail staff that Agnew was acting in a strange manner and had torn up his jail sandals and was tearing his jail mat apart which caused about a $100 worth of damage to jail property.

Agnew posted bond and was released the next day.

His initial hearing in Greene Superior Court was scheduled to take place on Monday but Agnew retained an attorney and the defense waived the initial hearing.

Agnew has been charged with:

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

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor,

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

• Criminal mischief, a Class B misdemeanor.