Andy L. Edgar, 54, was booked into the Jennings County Jail after he was arrested by North Vernon Police.
NORTH VERNON — A North Vernon man who police say pulled a weapon after he was stopped Thursday night for speeding faces felony resisting and firearm charges as well as misdemeanor drunken-driving counts. The suspect and a North Vernon police officer were treated for injuries after the arrest.
Andy L. Edgar, 54, was booked into the Jennings County Jail after he was arrested by North Vernon Police. In a press release, the department said Officer Nathan Vogel stopped Edgar for speeding in the 800 block of South Pearl Street. When Vogel spoke with Edgar, he smelled the odor or an alcoholic beverage in Edgar’s car.
“Once out of the vehicle Edgar placed his hands in his pockets and was asked to remove his hands from his pockets. 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,” the release said. Edgar reportedly refused to submit to field sobriety tests, but took a breath test that measured a blood alcohol content at the legal limit of 0.08.
After he was advised of his Miranda rights and offered a chemical test, “Edgar stated that he was not going back to jail. Edgar then turned and removed a pistol from his pocket as he ran from Officers Vogel and Chris Allen,” the press release says. “Edgar resisted the officers resulting in Officer Vogel injuring his hand” before Edgar was being physically detained and searched, according to NVPD Sgt. Isaac Barkes.
Deputies from the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department arrived and transported Edgar to Ascension St. Vincent Jennings Hospital for jail clearance. A search warrant for Edgar’s blood was obtained, the department said, and Edgar was treated by medical staff for his injuries and unrelated medical issue.
Vogel also was treated for his hand injury.
Edgar was booked into the Jennings County Jail on preliminary charges including Level 5 felony counts of resisting law enforcement by drawing a deadly weapon and intimidation with a deadly weapon; a level 5 felony charge of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon; and misdemeanor counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
In addition to NVPD and the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, other responders included Rescue 20, Jennings County Dispatch and Lee’s Wrecker Service.
