BEDFORD – A man was arrested after Bedford Police responded to a call at 4:07 p.m. from a TASC driver requesting an officer check on Thoma Pierson.
Thomas Pierson, 39, of Indianapolis, was yelling on the bus and talking about killing people.
Officers found Pierson on the west side of Mitchell Road dancing on the white fog line. The officer turned around and attempted to stop Pierson. He ran across the four-lane road causing a motorist to slam on their brakes and come to a complete stop to prevent hitting him.
An officer tried to get Pierson’s attention by activating his lights, instead, Pierson took off north on Mitchel Road and the officer followed. The officer hit his air horn to once again try to stop Pierson. Eventually, the officer was able to pull up beside Pierson and was able to get him to stop.
The officer exited his patrol car and approached Pierson who was in front of the police vehicle. The officer said Pierson was moving erratically and his pupils were pinpoints. The officer began to speak to Pierson and he continued to walk away. Pierson pulled away and “squared up” on the officer saying the officer had no reason to stop him when the officer tried to stop him by grabbing his arm.
Pierson appeared to have calmed down but then grabbed his front pocket area acting like he was going to pull something out of his pocket. He was told to stop and Pierson reached his right hand behind his back and pulled it out like he had a gun in it and stated “I’m going to shoot you” and then said, “I’m just playing.” He then began walking away from the officer and again the officer grabbed him to stop him. He then pulled away and shoved the officer which caused Pierson to fall to the ground over a guard rail. The officer had a hold of Pierson’s jacket, but he managed to pull away and run south from the scene.
The officer went over the guardrail and tackled Pierson. There is a small ravine that leads to a small creek in this area. Both the officer and Pierson plunged almost to the bottom of the ravine near the creek. Pierson continued to fight and attempted to grab the officer’s gun holster. A bystander, Richard Poole, saw the altercation and ran down the ravine to assist the officer. The two men were able to subdue Pierson and the officer was able to handcuff him.
Additional officers and a State Police trooper arrived on the scene to assist.
Pierson refused to stand and officers had to carry him to the top of the ravine and over the guardrail to the rear of a police vehicle. He would not get into the back of the vehicle and used his legs to prevent officers from placing him in the vehicle.
Pierson then began acting like he was killing officers as they attempted to get him into the vehicle. Eventually, an officer had to TASE Pierson to gain compliance.
Pierson was secured in the back of a police vehicle and transported to IU Health Bedford Hospital for a medical evaluation.
At the hospital, Pierson continued to fight with hospital staff and officers. He was placed in restraints and held down. During that, he spit and struck an officer in the face.
Officers located a small plastic baggie containing three bupropion hydrochloride in his front pocket. Pierson did not have a prescription for the drug.
Pierson would not calm down and was given ketamine by IU Health staff. Due to his erratic behavior, Pierson was transported to IU Health Bloomington for further medical treatment. At this point, he was released from custody.
The officer who tackled Pierson was also treated at IU Health Hospital. He suffered a laceration to his right arm and was treated and released.
Pierson, after being treated at the hospital was arrested at 4:07 p.m. on Tuesday on charges of attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer, battery on a public safety official, battery by bodily fluid, possession of a legend drug, resisting arrest by force and fleeing, public intoxication and disorderly conduct.
