Two deputies were watching when a driver squealed his tires then failed to negotiate a curve in the Lawrence Hollow area and ran off the road into a ditch. The driver ended up in jail and is accused of impaired driving and possession of methamphetamine.

Joshua P. Owens, 48, Indianapolis, formerly of Bloomfield, was arrested by Deputy Sgt. Jordan Allor of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department early Monday, September 27, following an incident that occurred on Sunday night, September 26.

Owens was first booked into the Greene County Jail at 2:12 a.m. on preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated with endangerment and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, both misdemeanors. His bond was set at $4,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. He posted bond.

Then evidence surfaced that Owens had been in possession of methamphetamine, a felony, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was back in custody on Monday, October 4, and when he appeared in court for his initial hearing, his new bond was set at $10,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed.

Owens has been charged with:

Possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony,
Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor, and
Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor.

Deputy Sgt. Allor was on patrol with Deputy Logan Milligan on North Lawrence Hollow Drive near the intersection with State Road 445 when they heard tires squealing on pavement then looked north and saw a gold 2006 Hyundai Elantra headed south at a high rate of speed. The Hyundai then ran off the road into a ditch.

Deputy Sgt. Allor had the red and blue lights on when the Hyundai drove out of the ditch and toward the patrol vehicle, as if it was going to go around the patrol vehicle. Deputy Sgt. Allor hit the siren and the Hyundai stopped in the middle of the road.

Owens was the driver with one female passenger on board. Owens allegedly said he did not realize the curve was as sharp as it was, said he had a valid driver’s license but didn’t have it with him, and said he had not consumed any alcohol or illegal drugs.

Sgt. Allor reported Owens showed signs of impairment including slurred speech and unsteady balance. After Deputy Camron Frye arrived on scene to assist, Owens allegedly failed standard field sobriety testing and was transported to the Linton Police Department where he passed one part but failed the rest in another round of sobriety testing.

Owens said he’d agree to a blood draw and was transported to Greene County General Hospital but once there, hospital staff made three attempts without success. Owens said he used to be a heroin addict and his veins were hard, then said he was not going to submit to the testing due to the pain.

Owens was then transported to jail and after a search warrant was approved, Greene County Ambulance personnel took a blood draw but only a small amount because of the condition of the veins. He was booked in.

Later, when a jailer went to clean the interview room where Owens had been sitting, a plastic zip bag containing a white crystal substance was found. The substance field-tested positive as methamphetamine. The bag has been sent to an Indiana State Police Lab for analysis and DNA comparison.

As of late Wednesday, October 13, Owens has not posted bond and is still in custody.