A Switz City man was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident after he allegedly backed his vehicle over a stop sign and a street sign and crashed his car into a ditch in the Linton area late Wednesday night.

Quentin Levi Resler, 23, Switz City, was arrested by Deputy Kelly Hutchens of the Greene County Sheriff's Department early Thursday, May 26, during her investigation of an accident that occurred late Wednesday, May 25.

Around 11:48 PM on Wednesday, Deputy Hutchens was dispatched to a crash at West County Road 200 N and North County Road 1225 W.

When she arrived, she found a red Ford Focus facing west in the ditch on the northeast side of the intersection. The car had backed over a stop sign and a street sign and they were laying on the ground beneath the vehicle. There were tire marks where the vehicle had spun to try and get out of the ditch. She also found scratches and a clean spot on the rear of the vehicle from the contact it made with the road signs. She reported that it appeared the vehicle was backing up when it left the roadway and entered the ditch. There was nobody around the vehicle at the time. Officers searched on foot and by car for anyone walking in the area but nobody was located.

Deputy Hutchens reported the license plate had been removed from the vehicle and there were finger marks on the vehicle from where the license plate was lifted off when it was removed. It was noticeable because the vehicle was dirty and the finger marks left a clean spot and the place where the plate had been was also clean.

A cell phone was located inside the vehicle along with a wallet that contained the driver’s license, Social Security card, and multiple other cards belonging to Resler. The registration in the vehicle also showed Resler was the registered owner of the vehicle.

Around 3:28 AM, the Linton Police Department got a call about a man near NW 5th Street and J Street in Linton who was under an awning up against a garage trying to stay out of the rain. The caller said the man was passed out and lying at a weird angle.

When Deputy Hutchens arrived at the scene, Resler was standing near the garage door with several LPD officers, a Jasonville police officer and a GCSD deputy already on the scene. Nearby they found the plate and the key to the Focus that was in the ditch.

Resler allegedly said he was there because a girl he had started talking to lived there and he thought he was going to stay there but no one answered the door. He said someone named Jake had dropped him off there. The odor of an alcoholic beverage was detected and Resler allegedly admitted he was drinking at his friend’s house and that was why his car was not there. He said he just had two drinks. He also said his car was at Jake’s house but he didn't want to drive it and then he giggled.

Finally after more questions were asked, Resler allegedly admitted he didn't know about wrecking the car but he might have gone off the road. When asked about the stop sign, he said he didn't really know but it was probably him. When asked why he took the license plate off the car and brought it with him, Resler allegedly started laughing and said because he needed it.

Resler was arrested and booked into the Greene County Jail at 4:45 AM with bond set at $500 surety with 10% cash allowed. He has since posted bond and been released from custody.

Resler is scheduled to appear in Greene Superior Court for his initial hearing on June 6 on a charge of leaving the scene of an accident, a Class B misdemeanor.