BEDFORD – A Bedford man facing criminal charges after fleeing from police in a vehicle and crashing.
Robert Cochran faces charges of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, disregarding traffic signals, reckless and aggressive driving, driving left of center, and operating a vehicle while never licensed.
Bedford Police officers responded to the 500 block of S Street after a report of a possibly suicidal man. That man was Cochran. The caller told police Cochran was looking for a knife and then said, “It is on when they (police) get here.” The caller then reported Cochran was chasing her.
The caller then reported Cochran had fled in a grey 2015 Ford van with damage on the rear bumper. He was last seen traveling south on R Street toward John Williams Boulevard.
Police searched the area, and at 6th and R streets, they spotted a vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. But police learned it was not the right vehicle.
The van Cochran was driving was then spotted traveling north on R Street.
Cochran failed to stop for officers. He turned east onto 5th Street and rapidly accelerated. As officers approached the intersection of 5th Street and Lincoln Avenue, Cochran proceeded west of 5th Street to pass stopped traffic and proceeded through the red light without attempting to slow down.
As Robert reached N Street, a Silver, 2012 Mitsubishi driven by Taylor Enochs entered the intersection and was struck by Cochran’s vehicle.
Taylor’s vehicle came to a stop just east of the intersection and Cochran’s vehicle came to a stop near the alley between N Street and M Street. Taylor was uninjured in the collision. Robert complained of pain as he was removed from his vehicle so he was placed in the grass on the south side of the roadway after being searched for weapons and placed in handcuffs.
He was read his Miranda rights and then refused to answer the officer’s questions. He then stated “just going to do this again” and that he was going to hit/strike his wife if she arrived on the scene.
IU Health Ambulance arrived on the scene and Cochran was transported to IU Health Bedford for a medical evaluation.
