Jonathan Gahwiller faces two counts of battery on a public official along with charges of operating while intoxicated with a prior conviction, resisting law enforcement, criminal mischief and leaving the scene of a property-damage accident, according to The 812.
Charge involving a prior OWI
The OWI count is identified as involving a prior conviction. An explanation of Indiana law from the Jerry L. Garner Law Office says Indiana Code § 9-30-5-3 treats an OWI as a Level 6 felony when the defendant had a prior OWI conviction within the preceding seven years. The available material does not establish when Gahwiller’s earlier conviction occurred.
What the report says happened
The 812 reported that 911 callers described a possibly intoxicated driver operating recklessly. Callers also reported damaged road signs and a vehicle that appeared to be burning. Deputies later found a pickup engulfed in flames near County Road 650 West and U.S. Highway 421 in the St. Omer area.
Gahwiller was found in the bed of a different pickup that had stopped near the burning vehicle. Deputies said he appeared extremely intoxicated. After he got out, authorities reported that a physical struggle followed. A deputy was allegedly kicked during the encounter, and a Greensburg police officer who arrived to assist was allegedly kicked in the chin. Gahwiller was then taken into custody, The 812 reported.
Additional allegations and response
The remaining charges concern the reported resistance, the damaged signs and leaving the area of a property-damage accident. The Adams Volunteer Fire Department, St. Paul Volunteer Fire Department, Decatur County EMS and Decatur County Communications also assisted, according to The 812.
The available material does not state whether either officer was injured, the total cost of the damaged signs or when the case will first appear on the Decatur County court docket.
