MISHAWAKA, Ind. — The Mishawaka Police Department has finally released the bodycamera video captured during a suspected OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) stop involving Mayor Dave Wood’s son, 21-year-old Joe Wood. In the video, the initiating officer says he can smell alcohol on the suspect. Joe Wood is also seen stumbling out of his car. At the beginning of the stop, Joe Wood almost immediately starts asking for the shift commander, Captain Eric Beckham. When Beckham shows up, Joe Wood excitedly calls out his name and walks over to him. Within seconds, Beckham tells Wood to lock up his car as it is being left on scene. He then tells responding officers that he will “take care of it.” Beckham then drove Wood to his dad’s house, who happens to be the Mayor of Mishawaka. While every officer on scene appears to have had their bodycamera running during the interaction, there was no video captured by Captain Beckham.
Expired plates, open container, gun on the passenger seat, clearly intoxicated, speeding, failure to signal, no field sobriety test given and a ride home to Granger from Mishawaka. What a deal, I’m sure all of us could expect this kind of kid glove treatment if we were this stupid. From watching the video I believe Captain Beckham was trying to obstruct his camera with his hand. Time will tell if there is any justice in the Princess City. Did I also pick up from the video that the kid works for the City and has a CDL? As I recall CDL has stricter blood alcohol criteria but perhaps only while driving?
I hate corrupt cops!! Fire Beckham, please!! The mayor’s son shouldn’t be “above the law” any more than the rest of us and our cops shouldn’t be helping people get away with crimes. What in the actual F. The initial officer on scene seemed like a good cop, although I don’t know why he didn’t do a breathalyzer or field sobriety test.
State of Indiana v. JOSEPH D WOOD
71D03-2103-IF-001311
Court St. Joseph Superior Court 3
Case Type IF – Infraction
Filed 03/19/2021
Status 04/16/2021, Decided
Charges 9-18.1-11-2(b)(2)/IFC: Operating with Expired Plates, 9-21-5-2(a)/IFC: Speeding
Parties State of Indiana,
Both citations were dismissed WITH PREJUDICE by the team of Magistrate Hardtke and Judge Sanford. Please FOIA the case to determine which jurisdiction stopped Teflon Joe. It would also be interesting to learn the contents of his “agreement”.
https://public.courts.in.gov/mycase/#/vw/CaseSummary/eyJ2Ijp7IkNhc2VUb2tlbiI6IkR0YVkwVUY2cXNkUndSdkJTbV9NMGx3a0Fkd1RhQ2phNUNEenVEeEk5c2sxIn19
Not bad enough to seemingly give the mayor’s son very preferential treatment, but he was drinking with his old man earlier in the evening. Didn’t the mayor know his son was impaired after that?