Jasper: A Jasper man was jailed this evening on drug and neglect charges after he drove through a yard to avoid nearly striking a State Trooper at the scene of a weather-related slide off.
Around 5:01 P.M. today, Trooper Brock Werne was assisting with a truck that had slid off of the roadway on Portersville Road south of County Road 500 North, approximately one mile north of Jasper. Trooper Werne had closed down the road by parking his police car in the middle of the road and turning on his emergency lighting. A Ford Exploer, driven by 24 year old Caleb M. Peltier of Jasper, drove around the police car and through a yard in an attempt to drive around the scene. After not being able to drive past the slide-off, Peltier turned around and drove back towards Werne, who stopped him.
Werne, while speaking to Peltier, smelled what he believed to be the odor of burnt marijuana. Through the course of his investigation, Werne learned that Peltier had smoked marijuana around noon today, and had marijuana and paraphernalia in his possession. Werne also found that Peltier had his two year old and 9 month old children in the vehicle.
Peltier was arrested and charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, two counts of Neglect of a Dependent, as well as Possession of Marijuana and Paraphernalia. He was lodged without incident in the Dubois County Security Center. The children were unharmed and picked up at the scene by their mother.
The Indiana State Police reminds motorists who witness reckless and dangerous drivers to immediately contact law enforcement, especially when road conditions are poor. Call 9-1-1 with a location, description of the vehicle, and specifically what reckless actions are happening to help police take dangerous drivers off of Indiana’s roadways.
Arrested and Charges:
Caleb M. Peltier, 24
Jasper, IN
- Neglect of a Dependent (two counts), Level 6 Felony
- Operating While Intoxicated (Endangering), Class A Misdemeanor
- Operating While Intoxicated (w/ Schedule I and II Controlled Substance), Class C Misdemeanor
- Possession of Paraphernalia, Class A Misdemeanor
- Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor
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HENSLEY
* Attached photograph is of Caleb Peltier
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
