Staff Report
COLUMBIA CITY — A Columbia City man was arrested after allegedly operating a vehicle while under the influence.
Jayson Bryantt Gregory Helvie, 31, 802 E. Summit Drive, Columbia City, is charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated – endangering a person less than 18 years old, a level 6 felony; and two counts of operating a vehicle without financial responsibility, both Class A infractions.
On May 18, Columbia City Police officers responded to a report of a vehicle accident. It was determined that Helvie was driving on West Frontage Road before accelerating to a high rate of speed, crashing into a field east of Main Street and flipping over.
According to court documents, officers administered several field sobriety tests to Helvie. During the tests, Helvie exhibited several signs of impairment.
A portable breath test showed Helvie had a 0.02 BrAC. When officers asked Helvie if he had huffed anything, Helvie’s body gestures changed and he denied doing so. Helvie said he drank one beer prior to the accident.
Helvie and a child in the vehicle were taken to Parkview Whitley Hospital for medical treatment following the accident. Upon searching Helvie’s vehicle, officers found a half-empty can of a compressed gas electronics duster.
Surveillance footage from Dollar Tree in Columbia City showed Helvie purchasing a can of compressed air prior to the accident.
Helvie has already been arrested and released on bond.
