Early morning driver charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, with ACE of .226

When a trooper filled out a form to establish probable cause that a rural Worthington man was driving in an impaired state due to alcohol, he checked the usual boxes for the odor of alcohol, mumbled speech, blood shot eyes, unsteady balance and poor dexterity but he didn’t check the box for an abusive attitude and took the time to write in, “Not at all.”

Shadric Scott Jones

Shadric Scott Jones, 39, of rural Worthington, was arrested early on Monday, August 13, by Indiana State Police Master Trooper Eric Nash.

Nash was traveling on State Road 48 west of Worthington, west of State Road 157, around 7:45 a.m. when he noticed a black 1997 Dodge Dakota pickup truck that appeared to be traveling at a high rate of speed. He said front radar showed the oncoming truck was going 71 mph in a 55, and rear radar showed it was going 72 mph.

The trooper turned around and pulled the truck over near County Road 800 North. Jones was the driver and the only occupant of the truck.

Trooper Nash reported the driver seemed confused and when he got out of his truck to retrieve his driver’s license, which was in his wallet inside a backpack in the bed of the truck, he was staggering.

Jones said he was late for work. When asked where he worked, Nash said the driver said he worked with the trooper. Then he said he worked down under, then he again said he worked with the trooper before he finally said he mowed yards.

Nash detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage and said Jones tested at .239 on a portable breathalyzer. Standard field sobriety tests were started but not completed on the scene due to traffic and safety reasons.

When Nash read the implied consent law to Jones, he said he didn’t understand so Nash read it a second time. Jones didn’t want to take a chemical test so Nash explained if he didn’t, he would be arrested for refusal. Jones said he didn’t know what to do and he asked for the trooper’s advice.

Nash told him he could not give him advice, but he explained the options, and Jones then agreed to take the test.

Jones was transported and Nash reported that Jones failed standard field sobriety testing at the sheriff’s department and that a certified chemical test administered at 9:17 a.m. showed Jones had an alcohol concentration equivalent to .226.

Jones was booked in to jail. His bond was set at $4,000 surety with ten percent allowed. He posted $400 cash, was released the same day and given a court date.

When Jones appeared in Greene Superior Court yesterday, Tuesday, August 27, he was charged with:

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor,
• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor, and
• Operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to .15 or more, a Class A misdemeanor.

Deputy Prosecutor Cheryl Jackson Stone represented the State and defense attorney Tim Shonk was appointed to represent Jones as a public defender.