Editor’s note: This story has been updated from an earlier version to reflect an investigation revealed a vehicle flipped on it’s side and removed any reference to an off-duty officer.
SHELBURN, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – According to the Farmersburg Police Department, one man was arrested and two children removed from his care Monday after police received multiple calls about a reckless driver traveling westbound on SR-48 near Casey’s General Store in Shelburn.
A press release said Police Chief Cody Strain was leaving the store around 12:19 pm when the call was dispatched. He observed the driver driving off the roadway into the grass before initiating a traffic stop.
According to a press release, “Following an investigation, authorities with the Farmersburg Police Department determined that the vehicle had left the roadway on SR-48, and traveled into a ditch, before subsequently flipping on its side; then rotated back to the upright position and continued westbound on SR48; swerving into oncoming traffic until the traffic stop was conducted.”
Authorities said two children were removed from the vehicle and placed with the Indiana Department of Child Services for their safety.
Devan Twitchell, 28 of Mt. Carmel, IL was later taken into custody without incident.
Twitchell is preliminarily being charged with:
- Possession of Methamphetamine- Child Present (5 Felony)
- Neglect of a Dependent (6 Felony)
- Maintaining a Common Nuisance (6 Felony)
- Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated – Endangerment (6 Felony)
- Possession of Marijuana (B Misdemeanor)
- Criminal Recklessness (B Misdemeanor)
- Reckless Driving (C Misdemeanor)
- Possession of Paraphernalia (C Misdemeanor)
Twitchell is being held at the Sullivan County Jail on a $59,000 cash bond. He will later be transferred to Gibson County on prior arrest warrant charges followed by extradition to Illinois for out-of-state arrest warrant charges.