BEDFORD— A homeless man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after police say he was found intoxicated, yelling at customers, and covered in blood outside a Bedford Walmart.
James Gregory Eads, 62, was taken into custody around 1:40 p.m. on July 8 near the 3200 block of John Williams Boulevard, according to Officer J. Landon Jones of the Bedford Police Department.
Officers responded to reports of a man yelling at customers and drinking alcohol near the store’s entrance. Eads was located on the east side of the building with visible scabbing and dried blood on his upper body. According to the police report, he appeared unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech, and emitted the odor of alcohol.
Walmart Asset Protection told officers that Eads had been shouting profanities at customers, including children, and had hidden an open bottle of gin behind a cigarette receptacle. When confronted, Eads denied that the alcohol belonged to him and refused to take a portable breath test.
Officers arrested Eads at the scene, during which he became verbally aggressive and continued shouting profanities, drawing attention from bystanders in the parking lot. Walmart staff requested that he be trespassed from the property, and a No Trespass order was issued.
Eads was transported to the Lawrence County Jail by Officer Hatton, but due to his level of intoxication, jail staff required that he be medically cleared first. Police say Eads refused to exit the vehicle at the hospital and had to be physically removed. Once inside, he continued yelling and disturbing patients and staff despite repeated warnings from officers and hospital security.
After receiving medical clearance, Eads was returned to the jail and booked on charges of public intoxication, disorderly conduct (with prior offenses), and resisting law enforcement.
All body camera footage and incident documentation were submitted as part of the investigation.
A Probable Cause Affidavit outlines the initial findings and allegations that led to an arrest. Criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
