BPD officer involved in collision

A drunk driver crashed his car into a Bloomington Police Department patrol car early Tuesday morning on State Road 45/46 Bypass.

Indianapolis resident Ignatius Ugbeka, 37, was driving a gold-colored 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe, heading northwest in the southwest lane. Bloomington Police Department Officer J’an Guess swerved to avoid a head-on collision with Ugbeka, but Ugbeka stuck his vehicle on the driver’s side, BPD Sgt. Joe Crider said.

Ugbeka continued driving northwest, despite Guess’ attempts to stop him.

A second BPD officer helped stop Ugbeka near the 45/46 Bypass and North Dunn Street.

The two officers told Ugbeka to exit the vehicle, but he refused. The officers then broke the passenger side window with a window punch and extracted Ugbeka from the vehicle.

The officers noted signs of impairment and found an empty container of vodka in the vehicle. Ugbeka was unable to coherently communicate with the officers.

Ugbeka was transported to BPD where he underwent a breathalyzer test and had a blood alcohol content of .27, Crider said.

Ugbeka was taken to IU Health Bloomington Hospital for evaluation and then to the Monroe County Correctional Center, where he was charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence, resisting law enforcement and leaving the scene of an accident.

— Sydney Murray