BEDFORD- A Mitchell man is facing a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a blood alcohol content greater than .15 after being discovered slumped over in his car early on the morning of December 29, 2024.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Bedford Police Department Captain Nicholas A. Lemke, officers were dispatched to 22nd and M Street at approximately 5:21 a.m. in response to a report of a vehicle stopped on the side of the road with its headlights on.
Upon arrival, officers located a red Impala in the grass on the north side of 22nd Street. The vehicle’s windows were fogged, and a male, later identified as Kamden E. Schrader, 23, of Mitchell, was found slumped over in the driver’s seat. Despite officers knocking on the windows, Schrader was initially unresponsive.
Officers gained access to the vehicle through the unlocked driver’s side door. Schrader was reportedly in and out of consciousness and did not respond to verbal questions, though he did react to a sternum rub. He was still buckled in the driver’s seat, the keys were in the ignition, and the vehicle’s gear shifter was in drive. The car was not running, and the headlights were off.
Officers noted a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from Schrader’s breath and body. Tracks in the dew suggested the vehicle had backed off the roadway and into the grass. The vehicle’s hood was cold, and the battery was dead, indicating it had likely been there for some time. Tall weeds near the driver’s side door appeared undisturbed, suggesting Schrader had not exited the vehicle.
IU Health ambulance personnel arrived and determined Schrader’s blood sugar was normal, but his pupils were extremely dilated. Due to his level of intoxication and inability to follow commands, officers had to physically remove him from the vehicle and place him on a gurney. Once in the ambulance, Schrader reportedly became combative and had to be restrained.
Officers could identify Schrader with his mother’s assistance through the vehicle’s registration. He was transported to IU Health Bedford for medical attention, with an officer following.
Based on Schrader’s condition and the odor of alcohol, a search warrant was obtained for a blood draw. A toxicology report released on January 29, 2025, allegedly showed his blood alcohol content to be .227g/100mL, significantly above the legal limit of .08 in Indiana.
Captain Lemke states in the affidavit that, based on this information, there is probable cause to request a warrant for Schrader’s arrest. The information was forwarded to the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office, and Scharder was arrested on Friday, May 2, 2025.
It is important to remember that an affidavit of probable cause outlines the investigating officer’s belief that a crime has been committed. Criminal charges are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
