- An Owen County man is in custody after passing out intoxicated while stopped in the middle of US 41 with his 8-year-old son in the vehicle.
On Friday, March 22, 2019 at 8:04 PM the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office responded to US Hwy 41 near Volkman Road for a report of a person down inside of a vehicle. On scene witnesses stated they had located a red passenger car parked in the middle of the roadway with a child left inside and the driver unconscious.
Deputies arrived on scene and located the vehicle blocking the roadway with the driver unconscious and the vehicle running. Deputies were able to wake the driver, later identified as Mr. Russell Edward Bandy, who believed that he was at North Daviess High School in Elnora, Indiana.
Mr. Bandy’s eight year-old son was in the back seat of the vehicle. The child appeared cold, frightened and unaware of where he was. Mr. Bandy admitted to consuming “three beers†prior to driving. Upon exiting the vehicle, deputies observed Mr. Bandy to have unsteady balance, red/glassy eyes and a strong odor of alcoholic beverages coming from his person. Mr. Bandy submitted to Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, which he failed. Mr. Bandy later submitted to a certified chemical test, which indicated his BrAC was .198 (more the double the legal limit of .08).
Further investigation revealed that Mr. Bandy had a previous conviction for Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated in 2016. The location of the vehicle during this incident, the unconsciousness of the driver, and the cold temperatures placed Mr. Bandy’s child, along with passing motorists, in unnecessary danger.
The Indiana Department of Child Services was notified of the incident. The child was released to his mother at their request. Mr. Bandy was subsequently arrested and lodged in the Vanderburgh County Jail without bond awaiting his initial court appearance.
ARRESTED:
Russell Edward Bandy (pictured Above) 28, of Spencer, Indiana. Neglect of a Dependent as a Level 6 felony, OMVWI with Child Under 18 Years of Age as a Level 6 felony, OMVWI with Previous Conviction within Five years as a Level 6 Felony, OMVWI as a Class A Misdemeanor.
