Two Arrested After Being Found Unresponsive In Vehicle Friday Night

Brandy Swafford strapped into a stretcher as paramedics wheel her to an ambulance

By Tim Arnett

WABASH,Indiana – According to a press release issued by the Wabash Police Department, two individuals were arrested Friday night after the vehicle they were in was discovered not moving at the intersection of Columbus and Vernon Streets in Wabash around 10:30. The press release states that Officer Phil Mickelson was alerted that something was wrong when he saw other motorists having to go around the stopped vehicle on Columbus Street. The press release went on to say that Officer Mickelson noticed that both driver and his passenger were unresponsive in the vehicle. As several ambulances and police cars arrived on scene, the police arrested Jon J. Haupert, 28, Lagro, on an Operating While Intoxicated preliminary charge. The passenger was identified as Brandy J. Swafford, 27, Wabash. She was later preliminarily charged for Possession of Paraphernalia. The press release said that other charges may be filed after the Indiana State Police Lab conducts other tests on evidence found in the vehicle.

The driver of the SUV, Jon Haupert, sits in the police car on the left hand side of the picture, which was taken at exactly 10:46 Friday night

But the press release doesn’t tell the whole story. MiBash News was the only media outlet on the scene of Friday night’s incident. The passenger, Brandy Swafford, was placed on a stretcher and taken away in an ambulance while Haupert was placed in handcuffs and taken away in a police car. Wayne Sparling, Owner of Kitchen’s Plus, was there at the scene and told MiBash News that the passenger had to be revived by paramedics. Sparling, who was standing mere feet away on the sidewalk, said that he overheard authorities say that the passenger was nearly dead. He added that paramedics tried everything to revive Swafford, even yelling “wake up!” numerous times. MiBash News observed Swafford awake and alert on the stretcher and placed in an ambulance at exactly 10:46 Friday night.