SUBJECT: Three days, Three Intoxicated Motorists Arrested Double, Quintuple and Sextuple the Legal Limit
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-NR-010
CONTACT: Lt. Noah Robinson
AUTHORITY: Sheriff Dave Wedding
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office has arrested three intoxicated motorists in three days time, all with blood alcohol content levels two to six times the legal limit.
On Thursday, February 08, 2018 at 4:16 PM the Sheriff’s Office responded to North US Hwy 41 near Petersburg Road upon report of a motor vehicle crash with injuries. A red 2016 Honda CRV driven by Mr. Harcourt Alton Sr. had struck the rear of a blue 2008 Ford Escape, pushing the Escape into a third vehicle, a blue 2014 Toyota Corolla. Both occupants of the Ford Escape complained of severe neck pain and were later transported by ambulance to the hospital.
Sheriff’s deputies on scene reported that Mr. Alton was visibly intoxicated. Mr. Alton appeared lethargic, smelled of alcoholic beverages, and was unable to stand unassisted. Mr. Alton passed out in the back of a deputy’s patrol car and had to be transported by ambulance to the hospital for evaluation. An open bottle of vodka was found inside his vehicle. A blood test later revealed Mr. Alton’s BAC to be .48%, which is six (6) times the legal limit of .08%. Mr. Alton was released from the hospital the next day and transported to jail.
Hours later on Thursday, February 08, 2018 at 7:12 PM the Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Oak Hill Road near Bergdolt Road to investigate a report of a possible intoxicated person passed out in a vehicle. A witness had found the driver and removed the ignition key from her vehicle as a precaution.
The responding deputy made contact with the driver, who identified herself as Ms. Linda Terry. The vehicle was located off the roadway, partially in a ditch and had a damaged tire. Ms. Terry was visibly intoxicated and had the strong odor of alcoholic beverages on her breath. Ms. Terry was unable to explain how she arrived at her present location. Unable to stand on her own, Ms. Terry was helped from her vehicle and placed into the back of a cruiser. An open bottle of vodka was found inside the vehicle.
After field sobriety testing, Ms. Terry was transported to the hospital for an evaluation. She refused the legal blood draw offered by the deputy. The hospital’s own testing however revealed her BAC to be .41, which is more than five (5) times the legal limit. Ms. Terry was then transported to the jail and booked in.
On Sunday, February 11, 2018, at 3:27 AM the Sheriff’s Office responded to a single vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 62 and Red Bank Road. At the scene, deputies found Mr. Douglas McPherson behind the wheel of a heavily damaged Jeep Liberty that had struck a traffic signal pole.
When deputies spoke with Mr. McPherson, they detected the odor of alcoholic beverages on his breath and noticed that he was unsteady on his feet. After field sobriety testing, Mr. McPherson was transported to the Vanderburgh County Jail where a certified breath test indicated his BrAC was .17%, which is more than twice the legal limit.
Mr. Alton and Mr. McPherson remain in jail pending a Monday court appearance. Ms. Terry bonded out last Friday and is due back in court on February 16.
ARRESTED:
Harcourt Lee Alton Sr. (pictured above), 43, of Evansville. Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated as a Class A Misdemeanor, Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated with a BAC of .15 or More as a Class A Misdemeanor
Linda Carol Terry (pictured above), 62, of Evansville. Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated as a Class A Misdemeanor with Test Refusal, Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated as a Class C Misdemeanor, Open Container as a Class C Infraction
Douglas Dean McPherson (pictured above), 22, of Evansville. Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated with a BAC of .15 or More as a Class A Misdemeanor, Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated as a Class C Misdemeanor
Pictured above: Crash scene at Highway 62 and Red Bank Road.
Pictured above: Crash scene on US 41 near Petersburg Road.
Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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