Staff Reports
CLARK COUNTY — Hauser High School’s varsity boys basketball coach was arrested on multiple charges after an incident in Sellersburg on Feb. 9.
Charging documents in Clark County accuse Joseph A. Sibbitt, 44, Scottsburg, of misdemeanor charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated — endangerment, operating a vehicle while intoxicated and criminal mischief.
Hauser principal David Wintin referred questions about Sibbitt to Flatrock-Hawcreek superintendent Shawn Price.
“We are aware of the situation, but cannot comment on any ongoing investigation,” Price said.
Sibbitt, a social studies teacher at Hauser, previously had coached at Paoli and Austin. He’s in his first year coaching the Jets going into Saturday night’s home game against Indian Creek.
He has continued to coach and teach at Hauser since the incident.
Court documents state that Sellersburg Police Department officer Jacob Lewis was sent to a gas station in Sellersburg at 3 a.m. Feb. 9 in reference to an intoxicated person passed out in a vehicle in the parking lot.
Witnesses said the vehicle appeared to have been in an accident with damage to its front end, and with two flat tires, court documents stated.
The officer said a man, later identified as Sibbitt, was found slumped over and passed out in the driver’s seat, court documents state.
Court documents state that the officer knocked on the window and woke Sibbitt, who appeared to be disoriented and fumbled when trying to roll down his window. When he did, the officer said he smelled a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from Sibbitt, his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and his speech was slurred, the probable cause affidavit states.
Sibbitt told police he had stopped at the gas station to wait for someone, and when asked about the vehicle damage, said he had run off the road, but could not say where, court documents said. When asked if he had been drinking, Sibbitt said he had a few draft beers in Columbus and was going to his parents’ house in Paoli, the probable cause affidavit states. He later said he was going to casinos in New Albany and French Lick.
Officers followed the vehicle’s tracks, where Sibbitt had driven on rims, and saw that he had struck landscaping and shrubs in front of a Taco Bell. Two the vehicle’s hubcaps were found at that scene, court documents state.
After a series of field sobriety tests, Sibbitt refused a chemical test and was placed under arrest, court documents state.
“I just had a personal issue that we’re addressing,” Sibbitt said in a phone call Friday when asked about the incident.
Hauser closes its regular season Tuesday at home against Triton Central and then will play in the Southwestern (Shelby) Sectional the following week.
“We’re just getting ready and prepared for our game against Indian Creek,” Sibbitt said.
