A Bloomfield man headed to Linton for a bite to eat in the middle of the night was clocked going 80 mph in 50 mile per hour zones. He was stopped by a GCSD deputy who reported he was operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Andrew Levi Dalton, 20, Bloomfield, was arrested by Deputy Kelly Hutchens of the Greene County Sheriff's Department early Tuesday, August 20.

A little after 3:00 AM that Tuesday, Deputy Hutchens was eastbound on State Road 54 west of Bloomfield when she noticed an oncoming westbound vehicle appeared to be traveling at a high rate of speed. She activated the front radar which showed the vehicle was going 80 mph in a 50 mph zone. After they passed each other she switched to the rear radar which showed the vehicle was maintaining a speed of 80 mph. She turned around to initiate a traffic stop then had to increase her speed to try and catch up. There were no other vehicles traveling on the highway in that area at the time.

Dalton was later determined to be the driver of the vehicle, a maroon 1994 Oldsmobile Achieva which stopped at the intersection of SR 54 and 57 then continued west toward Switz City. When she caught up and was following behind the vehicle, it was continuing to travel at 80 mph. When she activated the red and blue lights, the vehicle pulled over near the intersection of SR 54 and 67.

Deputy Hutchens spoke to Dalton through the passenger side window because the driver’s side window would not roll down. She said Dalton appeared nervous and she noticed he had red and glassy eyes. Dalton said he was coming from his home east of Bloomfield and was headed to McDonald's to get something to eat. He allegedly said he had not been drinking.

Dalton was asked to exit the vehicle for field sobriety testing but tests were stopped for safety concerns due to gravel and potholes but he did take a breath test on the portable breathalyzer which resulted in a reading of .152. So Dalton was transported to the Greene County Sheriff's Department for further testing.

Dalton failed field sobriety testing at the sheriff's department but agreed to take a chemical test. However, a result was not obtained due to insufficient samples so Dalton was transported to Greene County General Hospital for a blood draw, results pending.

Later during conversation, Dalton was asked what he'd been doing in the three hours prior to driving and he said he was fishing, went home and then drove. He allegedly admitted he had had a drink of tequila and soda several hours prior.

Deputy Hutchens reported that Dalton was convicted of operating a vehicle while intoxicated in September of 2020.

Dalton was booked into the Greene County Jail at 5:47 AM with his bond set at $8500 surety with 10% cash allowed. He posted $850 and was released later the same day.

Dalton is scheduled to appear in Greene Superior Court for his initial hearing on September 1 when he will be formally charged with:

Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor,
Operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction within seven years, a Level 6 felony,
Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor,
Operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction within seven years, a Level 6 felony, and
Minor in possession of alcohol, a Class C misdemeanor.