When a Lyons man was pulled over for driving left of center and following too closely on Monday night, he ended up in jail on charges that he was operating a vehicle while under the influence of a controlled substance.  

Sheldon Shane Alan Bridwell, 30, Lyons, was arrested by Indiana State Police Trooper Richard Klun on Monday evening, October 25.

Bridwell was the driver of a white 1997 Ford Ranger that was stopped on State Road 58, west of South Harp Road, around 5:15 p.m. Monday. At that time, Trooper Klun was on patrol, sitting stationary off State Road 58, while ISP Trooper Caleb Garvin was also patrolling in the same area.

Trooper Garvin notified Trooper Klun that while he was preparing to stop a vehicle, he saw the white Ford Ranger travel left of center multiple times. When the vehicle passed Trooper Klun’s location, he pulled out in back of the white Ford Ranger and noticed it was following very close behind another vehicle. The Ford Ranger then braked quickly and made an abrupt turn into a driveway. Trooper Klun also turned in and initiated the traffic stop.

Bridwell allegedly said he was turning around because he was heading to Linton and had missed his turn, but the trooper told him if he was heading to Linton, he should have kept going straight and not pulled into the driveway.

Trooper Klun reported smelling the odor of marijuana coming from the truck and when asked, Bridwell allegedly admitted he did have some marijuana in the truck and had smoked some earlier in the day.

Bridwell was cooperative and said he understood his rights and he would willingly consent to a blood draw which was later obtained at Monroe Hospital – results pending.

With assistance from Troopers Garvin and Benjamin Burris, a search of the truck yielded a glass smoking device with a burnt plant material, a clear plastic container with a black lid that contained a plant material and another container with a plant material – all believed to be marijuana.

According to Trooper Klun, Bridwell was convicted of operating a vehicle with a Schedule I or II controlled substance in his blood in Lawrence County on September 23, 2021.

Bridwell was booked into the Greene County Jail at 7:19 p.m. with bond set at $9,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. As of late Wednesday, he has not yet posted bond and remains in custody.

Bridwell is facing charges of:

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor,

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person – with a prior within seven years, a Level 6 felony,

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor,

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated – with a prior within seven years, a Level 6 felony,

• Operating a vehicle with a controlled substance in the body, a Class C misdemeanor,

• Operating a vehicle with a controlled substance in the body,  Level 6 felony,

• Possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, and

• Possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.