SCOTTSBURG — Indiana State Police arrested a man on Wednesday after allegedly finding him passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle on I-69 with his infant child on his lap.
Around 9:50 p.m. on Wednesday, ISP Sgt. Tracy Spencer was patrolling I-65 northbound, near Scottsburg, when he noticed a vehicle parked on the right side of the interstate, flashers on.
Sergeant Spencer approached the vehicle and found the 34-year-old driver asleep behind the wheel. The driver's nine-month-old son was standing on his lap, crying and "banging on the window," according to ISP Public Information Officer, Sgt. Carey Huls.
It took several attempts to wake the driver, but Spencer said the suspect appeared intoxicated once awoken. There were also open alcoholic beverage containers on the passenger seat and a loaded pistol discovered in the driver side door, according to Sergeant Huls.
The father soon took a preliminary breath test with the result of .136 BAC. He was taken to Scott County Jail and charged with Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) Impairment with Passenger Less than 18, a Level 6 Felony; Neglect of a Dependent, a Level 6 Felony; OWI, a Class C Misdemeanor; Possession of a Handgun without a Permit, a Class D Misdemeanor; Possession of Marijuana, a Level 6 Felony.
The child was taken to Scott Memorial Hospital for observation, and soon released to the biological mother.
