MITCHELL — A Mitchell man faces a felony bribery charge alongside misdemeanor public intoxication charges after police responded to reports of him lying in public roadways twice in the same evening.
Jason Wilcoxen, 33, was arrested by Mitchell Police officers on Friday, August 14th on preliminary charges of Level 5 felony bribery and Class B misdemeanor public intoxication.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Mitchell Police Officer Cody Blackwell, the first incident occurred around 6:58 p.m. Officers were dispatched to the intersection of 7th and Mississippi Streets after receiving a welfare check report of a shirtless man lying in the middle of the street.
Officer Blackwell arrived to find Wilcoxen lying face down along 7th Street between Mississippi and Main Streets. His shirt, bandana, watch, and asthma inhaler were scattered across the grass and roadway. Officers noted that Wilcoxen was initially incoherent, unsteady on his feet, and smelled strongly of alcohol.
After agreeing to submit to a preliminary breath test (PBT), Wilcoxen registered a breath alcohol content (BrAC) of .255%—more than three times the legal driving limit. After declining medical transport at the scene, an officer gave Wilcoxen a courtesy ride back to his residence in the 1100 block of Orchard Street at approximately 7:40 p.m.
At approximately 8:40 p.m.—just one hour after being dropped off at home—dispatchers received another suspicious person call regarding a man lying on the sidewalk near 10th and Frank Streets. Arriving officers located Wilcoxen at the scene and took him into custody.
Due to his extreme level of intoxication, Wilcoxen was transported to IU Health Bedford for a medical evaluation before booking. While at the hospital, officers reported that Wilcoxen exhibited severe short-term memory loss and received a warning for disorderly conduct after shouting obscenities in the facility.
During the subsequent transport to the Lawrence County Jail, Wilcoxen allegedly attempted to bribe the transporting officer to avoid going to jail. According to court records, Wilcoxen told Officer Blackwell, “I’ll pay whatever you need, I just wanna go home.”
Officer Blackwell immediately rejected the offer, and Wilcoxen was remanded into 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.
