A habitual drunk driver was arrested Sunday afternoon on his fourth offense of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Officers with the Middletown Police Department reported that a man later identified as Shawn Ball was speeding at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Officers pursued the car east on State Road 226 in an attempt to catch up with Ball, and they allegedly saw it go off the right side of the road.
MPD was able to pull over the car, and it was determined that field sobriety tests (FSTs) were required for the investigation. According to MPD, when conducting FSTs, Ball was asked whether there was anything wrong with his balance, and he stated that he had been kicked in the head by a horse.
Ball was noted to have bad balance, and when asked if he had any drinks, he allegedly stated that he only had two.
Ball was caught and requested to do a chemical breath test, which revealed an ACE level of 0.143. Ball was preliminary charged with the following:
- Operating a vehicle with an ACE of 0.08 or more- Level 6 felony
- Public intoxication- Class B misdemeanor
- Open alcoholic beverage container during operation of a motor vehicle- Class C infraction
- Following too closely- Class C infraction
- Speeding- Class C infraction
The Henry County Prosecutor’s Office has also filed a motion to pursue habitual offender substance offender designation for Ball.
Ball has already been convicted of OVI twice in Indiana, according to court filings. Once in 2015 and again in 2023. Ball was also reportedly arrested in Montgomery County three months ago for allegedly operating while intoxicated.
This will be Ball’s fourth OVI arrest, and if convicted, he faces up to two years in prison.
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