NORTH VERNON, Ind. – On Thursday, July 18, at 8:15 PM, Officer Nathan Vogel of the North Vernon Police Department (NVPD) conducted a traffic stop on a white Chrysler 300 for speeding in the 800 block of S State St. Officer Vogel identified the driver as Andy L. Edgar, 54, of North Vernon. While speaking with Edgar, Officer Vogel detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage inside the Chrysler and asked Edgar to step out of the vehicle.
Once out of the vehicle, Edgar allegedly placed his hands in his pockets and was asked to remove them. Edgar refused, and it was explained to him that he was being asked
to remove his hands for officer safety. After being told again, Edgar removed his hands from his pockets. Edgar was allowed to submit to Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, which
he refused. Edgar was then offered the opportunity to submit to a portable breath test, which he agreed and completed.
The portable breath test result indicated that Edgar’s breath sample was 0.08. Edgar was read his Miranda Rights and then admitted to drinking multiple beers before driving. Edgar was read Indiana Implied Consent and offered the opportunity to submit to a chemical test. When offered the chemical test, Edgar stated that he was not going back to jail. Edgar then turned and allegedly removed a pistol from his pocket as he ran from Officers Vogel and Chris Allen. Edgar resisted the officers, resulting in Officer Vogel injuring his hand before being detained and searched.
Deputies from the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department arrived on the scene and transported Edgar to the Ascension St. Vincent Jennings Hospital for jail clearance. A search warrant for Edgar’s blood was obtained as a result of the DUI investigation.
Medical staff treated Edgar for his injuries and unrelated medical issues, and Officer Vogel was treated for his respective injuries.
Edgar was later transported to the Jennings County Jail and is facing the following preliminary charges:
- Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person; A Class A Misdemeanor
- Operating a vehicle while intoxicated; A class C Misdemeanor
- Criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon; A level 6 Felony
- Resisting Law Enforcement Defendant Draws a deadly weapon; A level 5 Felony
- Intimidation with a deadly weapon, A level 5 Felony
This is a preliminary investigation. All persons are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
