MITCHELL — A search for a missing person ended Saturday evening with the arrest of a 24-year-old Bedford man who was discovered asleep inside Hatfield Elementary School following an apparent break-in.
Kason P. Hawkins faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after authorities found him partially clothed in the school library, surrounded by evidence of property damage and public intoxication.
The incident began on May 9, 2026, when the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department responded to a missing person report for Hawkins. Family and friends reported that Hawkins had been missing since 3:00 a.m. after leaving a party on foot where alcohol was being consumed.
The search led investigators to Hatfield Elementary School, where searchers discovered broken windows and discarded articles of clothing. Mitchell Police Detective Cody Grogan used a school access card to enter the building with deputies to conduct a sweep.
During the search, officers noted hallways in disarray and student artwork knocked off tables. Deputy Travis Atchison eventually located Hawkins asleep on a rug in the school library. According to the probable cause affidavit, Hawkins was wearing only a gray hoodie; he was missing his pants and underwear, leaving his genitalia exposed.
Officers had to enter through an unlocked side door of the library to reach Hawkins, who was reportedly difficult to wake and appeared confused. Detective Grogan handcuffed Hawkins for safety, noting blood on the suspect’s hand and an odor of alcohol.
Hawkins reportedly told officers he did not know where he was or how he had entered the building. Emergency medical services evaluated Hawkins at the scene, where a preliminary breath test yielded a .130% BAC. Due to high blood pressure readings, he was transported to IU Health Bedford for medical clearance before being booked into jail.
Following the arrest, school staff assisted investigators in identifying the extent of the damage to ensure the building would be safe for students on Monday. Findings included that a possible entry point was identified as an open window on the north side of the building. Three windows on exterior doors were broken, and a television near the front entrance was destroyed. Displays and decorations were torn from the walls, and cleaning materials were scattered across a faculty bathroom floor. Investigators recovered a pair of underwear and a hat in a front office, as well as a dental retainer in a faculty bathroom.
Hawkins was remanded to the Lawrence County Jail on the following preliminary charges of criminal trespass, institutional criminal mischief, public indecency/exposure, and public intoxication.
Detective Grogan noted that Hawkins was cooperative throughout the encounter.
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.
