BEDFORD – Lawrence Superior Court I Judge John M. Plummer III sentenced a Mitchell man to nine years in prison.
Judge Plummer sentenced 23-year-old Michael “Cole” Roach to serve five years in the Indiana Department of Resources and suspended four years to supervised probation upon his release.
Roach pled guilty to causing serious bodily injury when operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Level 4 felony, as a part of a negotiated plea agreement with the State of Indiana. The plea agreement outlined that Roach would plead guilty to the Level 4 felony with a sentence that would be open to Judge Plummer’s decision with a cap of six years on the executed sentence.
Chief Deputy Joshua K. Scherschel said, “This defendant caused an accident which left a woman with serious, long-lasting injuries. All because he made the choice to drive while intoxicated at over twice the legal limit. This office takes drunk driving very seriously, and will not hesitate to prosecute those who make the terrible choice to get behind the wheel while intoxicated.”
Roach was arrested after a warrant was issued for his arrest after an accident on November 11, 2021. Bedford Police officers responded to an injury accident on John Williams Boulevard and Williams Park Drive. When police responded they found a gray Pontiac G6 had sustained major damage and Jamie Jones trapped inside.
As police approached the vehicle, bystanders began yelling that the driver of the other vehicle was running from the scene and was headed to the wooded area just east of the accident.
While officers were assisting at the crash scene, additional officers looked for the other driver, 20-year-old Michael” Cole” Roach.
Officers found Roach’s black Chevrolet Cruise parked in a gravel parking lot south of John Williams Boulevard. The vehicle had heavy front-end damage.
Officers located Roach running east of Hillcrest Road and entered the wooded area near Hillcrest Christian Church. Roach stumbled through the woods and tripped and fell on branches. He then curled up into a ball on his stomach and began yelling. He was detained at that time.
Roach was uncooperative with the police as they attempted to arrest him. Officers were finally able to handcuff Roach successfully. Roach refused to walk out of the wooded area on his own recognizance and had to be carried by the officers. Officers then had to restrain Roach’s legs as he continued to resist by kicking and flailing his legs.
Roach was placed in a patrol car and transported to IU Health Hospital for a medical evaluation and chemical blood test.
Roach then apologized for causing the wreck and fighting with officers.
Jamie Jones was freed from her vehicle and transported to IU Health Hospital for medical treatment and later flown to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment.
The information was forwarded to the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office and a warrant was issued for Roach’s arrest on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury, OWI endangerment, OWI, resisting arrest by force, and fleeing, battery on a law enforcement officer and illegal consumption.
