MITCHELL — A Bedford man faces a felony charge after he allegedly slapped a Mitchell police officer in the face during a public intoxication response on Thursday evening.
Jobe Sergent, 26, of Bedford, was arrested on July 2, 2026, following the incident. He faces charges of battery on a law enforcement officer, a Level 6 felony, alongside misdemeanor counts of public intoxication and disorderly conduct.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Mitchell Police Officer Phillip Emery, the incident began at approximately 8:17 p.m. when officers were dispatched to the 400 block of Dale Street. Emergency dispatchers received reports of a belligerent male throwing objects, including a resident’s potted plants.
Officer McMillen made initial contact with Sergent at the scene, and was quickly joined by Officer Emery and Sergeant Jacobs. Officer McMillen then stepped away to interview the reporting witness, leaving Emery and Jacobs to speak with Sergent.
Officer Emery noted in his report that a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emitting from Sergent. Sergent was reportedly swaying back and forth, slurring his speech to the point of being incomprehensible, and at one point stumbled into Sergeant Jacobs and leaned against him.
The encounter escalated rapidly when Sergent stood upright and walked toward Officer Emery. According to court documents, Sergent extended his hand as if to offer a handshake. When Officer Emery extended his hand in response, Sergent allegedly slapped the officer across the face with an open hand.
Sergeant Jacobs and Officer Emery immediately moved to restrain Sergent, ordering him to the ground. When Sergent failed to comply, Officer McMillen approached from behind to help bring him to the pavement, where he was secured in handcuffs. A subsequent search of Sergent’s person yielded only a toboggan, an adhesive bandage, and a cigarette.
Once secured in the back of a patrol vehicle, Sergent consented to a Preliminary Breath Test (PBT). The test returned a blood-alcohol concentration reading of 0.256%, which is more than three times the legal driving limit in Indiana.
Due to the high level of intoxication, protocol required that Sergent receive medical clearance before he could be admitted to the county jail. Officers transported him to IU Health Bedford Hospital.
Police noted that Sergent remained belligerent and uncooperative throughout his medical evaluation, making incomprehensible statements and repeatedly ignoring commands from officers to remain seated during the examination.
After being medically cleared by hospital staff, Sergent was escorted back to the patrol vehicle and transported to the Lawrence County Jail, where he was booked and remanded into custody.
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.
