Hancock County Coroner arrested on DUI

GREENFIELD, Ind. (WISH) - The Hancock County coroner is in jail facing drunken driving charges.

Tamara Vangundy was arrested early Thursday morning after she showed up on a death investigation in New Palestine apparently drunk.

A breathalyzer was administered around 12:20 Thursday morning and she tested twice the legal limit at .16, police officials say. Vangundy was taken to the Hancock County Jail.

UPDATE | Vangundy can stay in office.

Vangundy told police she had 18 ounces of wine — or about three-quarters of a typical bottle of wine — during a one hour period at a friend’s house. She said she stopped drinking at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to the probable cause affidavit.

The coroner was stumbling and swaying at the scene, court documents say. She drove her personal vehicle to the death scene, because she said she thought she might be too intoxicated to drive the county-owned van.

Court documents indicate that Vangundy is facing an operating while intoxicated charge and a charge of official misconduct.

In Tuesday's primary election, Vangundy is running unopposed for re-election. She's the half sister of Greenfield Police Chief John Jester.