North Liberty man charged after striking SBPD officer with vehicle
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- The St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office has officially charged 36-year-old Anderew Mitchell of North Liberty following an incident on Jan. 3 where South Bend Police Department Officer Terry Redden was struck by a vehicle while responding to a crash.
On Friday, Mitchell was charged with three counts:
- Count I: Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Person, a Class A Misdemeanor
- Count II: Driving While Suspended, a Class A Misdemeanor
- Count III: Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Person with a Prior Conviction, a Level 6 Felony
"As Officer Redden was standing near the rear door of one of the vehicles involved, another westbound driver, Andrew Mitchell, 36, of North Liberty, struck that vehicle, causing the already crashed vehicle to be pushed into Officer Redden," said SBPD Media Liaison Ashley O’Chap. "Mitchell was uninjured and cooperated with investigators. Through an investigation, Mitchell was ultimately transported to the St. Joseph County Jail on the preliminary charges of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated with a Prior Conviction and Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Causing Bodily Injury."
According to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office, the sentencing range for a Level 6 Felony is one half to two and a half years. The sentencing range for a Class A misdemeanor is up to one year.
Mitchell was ordered to be held without bond until his initial bail hearing.