Police and court documents say a Muncie man was arrested after he allegedly tried to run down another man with his car outside a downtown homeless shelter, instead slamming into the side of the building and a nearby vehicle. Officers later pulled the car over and took the driver into custody, and the suspect’s wife suffered serious injuries to her left arm, according to the report.
According to Fox59, court filings identify the suspect as Scott Jewell and say the June 30 confrontation started after Jewell believed the other man was having an affair with his wife. Video from the scene reportedly shows Jewell steering toward the man before striking the Hub shelter and another vehicle. Officers said they found empty alcohol containers inside the car and noticed a strong odor of alcohol. After the vehicle drove past officers, police conducted a traffic stop, and the report says Jewell blew 0.17% on a portable breath test.
Charges and What They Mean
The court filings list preliminary counts that include leaving the scene with serious injury, which is a Level 3 felony, OWI accident with serious injury, a Level 5 felony, and criminal recklessness or aggressive driving with injury, a Level 6 felony. Under state law, Level 3 felonies generally carry between three and 16 years in prison, Level 5 between one and six years, and Level 6 about six months to two and a half years, according to the Indiana Code.
The portable breath test result of 0.17% is more than double Indiana’s per se legal limit of 0.08% for operating while intoxicated, as noted by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.
Where It Happened
The vehicle reportedly struck the Hub daytime center on the 300 block of West 8th Street in downtown Muncie. The Hub is listed as a daytime shelter that offers showers, laundry and other basic services. Regional directories show the Hub’s address as 318 W. 8th St., according to Indiana Homeless Help.
Police Response and What Comes Next
Officers say they stopped the vehicle after it drove past them and arrested the driver at that traffic stop. The charges remain preliminary and the investigation is still active. Police and prosecutors will determine whether to file formal charges, and authorities have asked anyone with video or information about the incident to contact Muncie police, according to Fox59.
Scott Jewell is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court. This story will be updated as additional court filings and official statements become available.
