Bloomington police say a Tuesday night patrol downtown ended with the arrest of Stephen William Schroeder, after officers found him visibly intoxicated while carrying his two-year-old child through the city’s busy nightlife strip. Witnesses told officers they saw a man stumbling along Kirkwood Avenue with a toddler in his arms, dropping the child near a fence and then urinating on himself. Police took Schroeder into custody at the scene and later transported him to the county jail, a case that has put an uncomfortable spotlight on child safety in Bloomington’s entertainment district.
Police: Call From Kirkwood Led Officers To Morton Street
Just before 9 p.m., Bloomington police responded to a report that an intoxicated man was walking down Kirkwood Avenue carrying a baby and later found Stephen William Schroeder on Morton Street holding his two-year-old, according to Indiana Public Media. A witness told officers the man had dropped the child near a fence and appeared disoriented. The incident report states Schroeder denied drinking, but officers noted that he had urinated on himself, his breath smelled of alcohol, his eyes were watery and he was slurring his words.
Police administered a breath test that registered a 0.2 percent blood-alcohol concentration, and the department arrested Schroeder on a felony neglect-of-a-dependent charge and a misdemeanor public-intoxication charge, according to the incident report cited by Indiana Public Media.
Booked At The County Correctional Center
After his arrest, Schroeder was taken to the Monroe County Correctional Center. The Correctional Center, formally the Charlotte Zietlow Justice Center at 301 N. College Ave., is the county facility that handles bookings and detentions, according to Monroe County’s website.
What The Charge Means Under State Law
Neglect of a dependent is defined in state statute and is generally charged as a Level 6 felony under Indiana Code section 35-46-1-4, according to Justia. The law allows for more serious treatment in certain circumstances, for example if the neglect results in bodily injury.
Sentencing for a Level 6 felony carries a fixed term of between six months and two-and-a-half years and may include fines of up to $10,000 under Indiana Code section 35-50-2-7, per Justia.
Schroeder has since posted bond, according to Indiana Public Media. The charges remain allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
