BEDFORD – A man, identified as Chad Kling, 34, was arrested Wednesday night following a disturbance at a local gas station that resulted in charges of public intoxication and resisting law enforcement.
BEDFORD – A man, identified as Chad Kling, 34, was arrested Wednesday night following a disturbance at a local gas station that resulted in charges of public intoxication and resisting law enforcement.
Upon arrival, Officer Ratcliff found Kling sitting on a bench outside the store with his eyes closed. After waking him, the officer immediately detected a strong odor of alcohol. Kling admitted to having been drinking. A customer informed the officer that they had helped move Kling to the bench after finding him lying in a handicap parking space.
The female caller told police she had tried to wake Kling several times while he lay in the parking spot, and that approximately four customers had expressed concern.
IU Health EMS arrived to evaluate Kling, who reportedly struggled to stand up, falling back onto the bench multiple times. A preliminary breath test administered by police returned a blood alcohol content of 0.229. Kling declined transportation to the hospital for further treatment.
The situation escalated when Bedford Dispatch notified Officer Ratcliff that a witness had called in, reporting that Kling had placed a glass smoking device into his pocket just before the officer’s arrival.
As the officer attempted to detain Kling after advising him multiple times to keep his hands out of his pockets, Kling allegedly began to pull his arm away forcefully. The affidavit states Kling “began to square up on me in an aggressive manner and continued to pull his arm away.” The officer was forced to take Kling to the ground, where a civilian male employee assisted in the arrest.
Major Swanson arrived to assist in placing Kling into the patrol vehicle, but Kling allegedly resisted again, forcing his body downward to prevent entry into the police car.
After being secured and transported to IU Health for medical clearance, Kling reportedly kicked his legs at officers and hospital staff multiple times, though no one was struck. He was medically cleared and subsequently transported to the Lawrence County Jail for processing and housing.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the Probable Cause Affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
