A Linton police detective has been placed on unpaid administrative leave following his arrest on an operating while intoxicated charge, according to action taken during a special meeting of the Linton Board of Works.

During the special session, board member Linda Bedwell made a motion to move Logan Hobbs from paid administrative leave to unpaid leave pending the outcome of the investigation into his arrest. The motion was seconded by Tony Richards and approved by the board.

Hobbs was arrested Dec. 31 after Indiana State Police allege he was driving a fully marked Linton Police Department vehicle while intoxicated. Court documents state Hobbs later recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.375, more than four times the legal limit.

Indiana State Police were contacted at approximately 6:45 p.m. after a citizen reported that an off-duty Linton police officer appeared impaired while in the drive-thru at Taco Bell. The officer was reportedly operating a marked police vehicle at the time.

Indiana State Police Trooper Logan McDowell responded to the Linton Police Department, where Hobbs was located in the office of Police Chief Paul Clark. According to court documents, McDowell detected a strong odor of alcohol and observed signs of impairment, including slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and unsteady balance.

Court records state Hobbs admitted to drinking alcohol and driving. He agreed to perform standard field sobriety tests and failed all three administered tests, including the horizontal gaze nystagmus, walk-and-turn and one-leg stand tests.

Hobbs declined a portable breath test but consented to a chemical blood test. A blood draw was conducted at 7:59 p.m. at Greene County General Hospital. He was then transported to the Greene County Jail, where he later submitted to a breath test that showed a BAC of 0.375, according to court documents.

Chief Clark told investigators that Hobbs had gone through the Taco Bell drive-thru and that a restaurant employee called 911 after observing his behavior. Clark said he responded to the scene and found Hobbs in the drive-thru with the police vehicle still running and in gear. When Hobbs exited the vehicle, it began to roll forward before Clark secured it and transported Hobbs to the police department.

Two Taco Bell employees provided statements to investigators, reporting that Hobbs appeared confused and disoriented. The employees said they retained Hobbs’ debit card to prevent him from leaving the drive-thru.

The criminal investigation is being handled by the Indiana State Police.