BEDFORD — A late-night disturbance at a local fast-food restaurant resulted in the arrest of a Bedford man after he allegedly wandered into traffic and entered the business heavily intoxicated, covered in mud, and bleeding from the head.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Officer Sarah Haluda of the Bedford Police Department, officers responded to a dispatch at Taco Bell at approximately 9:25 p.m. on June 26, 2026, regarding an injured male who appeared to be highly intoxicated inside the establishment.
Nathan Kimbrel, 37, of Bedford, was taken into custody and faces a preliminary charge of public intoxication.
Upon arriving at the scene, Officer Haluda located Kimbrel leaning heavily against the front counter of the restaurant. Haluda, who noted she recognized Kimbrel from numerous prior law enforcement interactions, observed that he was struggling to stand upright and was talking out loud to no one in particular while employees worked around him.
Kimbrel was completely soaking wet, covered in mud and grass, and actively bleeding from a wound on his forehead, indicating he had recently suffered a fall outdoors. Despite his injuries, Kimbrel appeared entirely unaware of them due to his extreme impairment. Officer Haluda also noted that Kimbrel had strewn a handful of sauce packets across the restaurant floor while attempting to gather them.
When questioned by officers, Kimbrel provided conflicting narratives. He initially stated that he had walked to Taco Bell to buy food for himself and his mother, but later claimed he had ridden a bicycle there, before subsequently asserting that he had actually been at a nearby Pizza Hut.
While Kimbrel denied needing immediate on-scene medical attention, a restaurant employee informed Officer Haluda that another customer had expressed safety concerns after witnessing Kimbrel walk directly into moving vehicles in the parking lot while trying to enter the store.
Officer Haluda escorted Kimbrel to the rear of her patrol vehicle, noting that she had to physically hold onto him to keep him from falling over due to his severe unsteadiness. Officers detected a heavy odor of alcoholic beverages emitting from Kimbrel and discovered a “99” brand alcohol shooter bottle inside his pocket.
At the scene, Officer Haluda attempted to administer a preliminary breath test, but Kimbrel was too intoxicated to stand still or hold himself up long enough to provide a viable reading. Throughout the encounter, Kimbrel exhibited paranoid behavior, repeatedly insisting to officers that “the Mexicans” were responsible for his head injury and claiming that “the cartel” was actively pursuing him.
Kimbrel was transported to IU Health Bedford Hospital, where he received formal medical clearance for his injuries. Following clearance, he was moved to the Lawrence County Jail, where a breath test was administered, which registered a blood alcohol concentration of 0.192 BrAC—more than twice Indiana’s legal driving limit of 0.08.
Kimbrel was remanded to the custody of the Lawrence County Jail.
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.
