Jennings County Sherriff's Office arrest local man for OVI, Child Endangerment

NORTH VERNON, Ind. - The Jennings County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) arrested a Commiskey man on charges related to OWI and Neglect of a Dependent on February 26.

Jennings County Dispatch received a 911 call reporting an accident that involved a vehicle that had collided with a tree on County Road 800 South near Graham Creek Elementary School.

The 911 caller informed dispatch that a male driver and a small infant child were in the vehicle at the time of the collision. Jennings County Sheriff's Deputies arrived on scene. They located the male driver, identified as Joseph McGrath, 31, of Commiskey, standing outside the vehicle, which had full airbag deployment and heavy front-end damage. The involved infant child, who was under the age of 2, was located in a vehicle that had stopped on scene to await First Responders’ arrival. Deputies immediately checked on the infant child, who did not appear to have any visible injury.

As deputies began speaking with Joseph to gather details of the accident, Deputies detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage. Joseph refused to cooperate with the investigating Deputy and was detained. Joseph was transported to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office, where the investigating Deputy applied for and was granted a Warrant for Blood Draw through the Jennings County Circuit Court.
A blood draw and jail clearance were completed at St. Vincent Jennings Hospital.

Joseph was then transported to the Jennings County Jail where he was remanded to jail staff on the following preliminary charges:

• Operating while Intoxicated w/Endangerment------Level 6 Felony
• Neglect of a Dependent—Level 6 Felony