Inset: Meisha Thomas (Indiana State Police). Background: The area in Indiana where Thomas was pulled over after allegedly calling 911 on herself (Google Maps).
A 42-year-old woman from Illinois was arrested after she allegedly called 911 “on herself” while driving home drunk in the wrong direction, then repeatedly made “sexual comments” and “inappropriate physical advances” toward a state trooper.
Meisha Thomas was taken into custody over the weekend and charged with one count each of battery against a public safety official and reckless driving as well as two counts of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, authorities announced.
According to a press release from the Indiana State Police, a woman later identified as Thomas called 911 “on herself” at 1:36 a.m. Sunday sounding “highly intoxicated” and “providing erratic information to dispatchers.” Police tracked the caller”s cellphone signal, which showed she was traveling south on Interstate 65 near the 240-mile marker.
A trooper spotted the vehicle on I-65 as it crossed into Jasper County. The vehicle, which was traveling between 30 and 50 mph in a 70 mph zone, was seen “swerving between lanes, impeding traffic, and causing motorists to brake and take evasive action,” police said.
When the trooper activated emergency lights and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, it initially continued driving before eventually stopping in the left lane of I-65. The trooper approached the car and spoke to Thomas, who allegedly exhibited “slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, poor coordination, and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage.”
Thomas allegedly told the trooper she had recently left a casino in Gary, Indiana, and was driving to her home in Chicago. Police said Thomas drove about 36 miles in the wrong direction.
The trooper determined Thomas could not safely complete a field sobriety test, and she refused to comply with Indiana’s implied consent law, so investigators obtained a search warrant for a blood draw, which was conducted at a nearby hospital.
Thomas also allegedly made numerous unwanted sexual advances toward the trooper.
“Throughout the encounter, Thomas made repeated inappropriate sexual comments and physical advances toward the arresting trooper, including attempting to kiss him while he was securing her in a seat belt,” the release states. “Despite being instructed multiple times to stop, Thomas continued making kissing gestures, sounds, and suggestive remarks. As a result of one of the incidents, she was additionally charged with battery against a public safety official.”
Thomas was booked into the Jasper County Jail. It was not immediately clear when she was scheduled to appear in court.
