Drunk man who ran into woman rightfully convicted

The Indiana Court of Appeals Tuesday affirmed the public intoxication conviction of a man who showed signs of being drunk and walked into a woman as he left an Indianapolis nightclub, prompting a response from nearby police.

The appeal in James Brown v. State of Indiana, 49A02-1312-CR-1023, tested whether the defendant met one of the four conduct elements required for an intoxicated person to be convicted after the General Assembly amended the public intoxication statute in 2012.  

Brown claimed that he walked into a woman on a crowded sidewalk, and therefore the evidence was insufficient to prove that he breached the peace or was in imminent danger of breaching the peace.

“Notwithstanding his contention, the evidence demonstrates that Brown showed signs of intoxication, such as glassy and bloodshot eyes, a staggered walk, and the odor of alcohol. Moreover, he walked directly into a woman after exiting the combined entrance to Sky Bar/Caps and Dolls/Crackers Comedy Club in Indianapolis,” Judge John Baker wrote for the court.

“As a result, the woman began to yell at him and attracted the attention of a nearby officer. This evidence is sufficient to prove public intoxication because Brown demonstrated signs of intoxication while he was in a public place, and he harassed, annoyed, or alarmed another person,” the court held, meeting another of the four conduct elements required under the amended statute. “Therefore, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.”