Coroner arrested at scene of investigation

First Posted: May 03, 2012 - 9:06 am
Last Updated: May 03, 2012 - 1:42 pm

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Hancock County Coroner Tamara Vangundy is charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a misdemeanor; and official misconduct, a felony.

By Noelle M. Steele

GREENFIELD — The Hancock County coroner was arrested early this morning after showing up drunk to a death scene, officials said.

Tamara Vangundy, 49, of Greenfield, drove about 13 miles from Greenfield to the Schildemeier Woods neighborhood in New Palestine late Wednesday to investigate a death. There, officers noticed Vangundy was staggering and had slurred speech, Sheriff Mike Shepherd said.

Shepherd said he was first called around 11:05 p.m. with a report that Vangundy might be impaired. She was not given a field-sobriety test until he arrived on the scene around 11:45 p.m. A breath test, administered at 12:18 a.m., registered a 0.16 blood-alcohol content.

Vangundy told officers she had been drinking wine that evening and thought her last drink had been around 8 p.m.

Vangundy is charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, as well as official misconduct, a Class D felony, Hancock County Prosecutor Michael Griffin said today.

This story will be updated, and a complete report will be in the Friday print edition of the Daily Reporter.