Linton woman charged with OWI after traffic stop, positive THC screening
/A Linton woman is scheduled to appear in Greene Superior Court on Sept. 10 for an initial hearing after police allege she was operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Isabella Louise Gaarder, 18, faces two Class C misdemeanor charges: operating a vehicle while intoxicated and operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Bloomfield Police Department, Deputy Marshal Cade Laughman was conducting traffic enforcement at approximately 1:46 a.m. Aug. 28 near State Road 54 and J.L. Wilson Road when he observed a 2017 Ford Focus traveling 70 mph in a posted 50 mph zone.
Police said Laughman initiated a traffic stop on State Road 54 near County Road 70 East. During the stop, investigators reported Gaarder appeared visibly nervous, avoided eye contact, had shaking hands, and spoke with a shaky voice.
The affidavit states Laughman detected an odor he recognized as marijuana coming from the vehicle and requested assistance from the Greene County Sheriff's Department and additional Bloomfield officers. Assisting officers also reported smelling the odor, leading investigators to conduct a probable cause search of the vehicle.
According to court documents, officers located two MKX-brand vape devices in the driver's door and packaging that allegedly identified one as a THC product. Investigators also reported finding two partially burned hand-rolled cigarettes beneath the passenger seat containing what they believed to be marijuana.
Police said Gaarder told Sgt. Jordan Allor she had last smoked marijuana "yesterday."
Deputy Braxton Clark then administered standardized field sobriety tests. According to the affidavit, Gaarder failed the walk-and-turn test. She also consented to an oral fluid screening, which police said returned a positive result for cannabis.
Gaarder agreed to provide a blood sample after being advised under Indiana's implied consent law. A blood draw was performed at Greene County General Hospital before she was transported to the Greene County Jail.
The results of the blood test are pending.