Bret Youngblood

PERU, Ind. – Police in Indiana say a 30-year-old man high on methamphetamine shattered the window of a squad car with his head after being shot with a stun gun and handcuffed following a crash along a rural road.

Deputies were called to the intersection of county roads 250 South and 300 West, about 80 miles north of Indianapolis, late Monday night after receiving a report of a shirtless driver who had crashed his vehicle and ran into a patch of woods along U.S. 31.

According to an affidavit obtained by the Kokomo, Indiana Tribune, officers surrounded the area and heard the man, later identified as Brent Youngblood, crashing through trees nearby. He then ran out of the woods, saw the deputies, and fled back into the trees.

Officers eventually located Youngblood lying in some tall grass. He jumped up and tried to flee again before being hit with the stun gun. Police said the electric jolt had no effect on Youngblood.

Officers eventually apprehended him and placed him in handcuffs.

As deputies led him to a squad car, Youngblood was “yelling and swearing at officers and laughing, stating, ‘Took you long enough to find me,’” according the affidavit.

As he was led to a squad car, a handcuffed Youngblood became agitated and complained that the cuffs were too tight on his wrists. After deputies placed him in a cruiser, Youngblood began banging his head against a window in the car. They told him to stop and offered to change his cuffs if he calmed down. Instead, he began to yell “abusive language” at the officers, according to the affidavit.

When officers shut the squad car door, Young again banged his head against the window, causing it to shatter.

Youngblood’s behavior was consistent with someone on a methamphetamine high, according to several studies on the side effects of meth use. They cite increased levels of dopamine, serotonin and other brain chemicals that can lead to mood swings, increased delusions and hallucinations, which can contribute to a feeling of invulnerability or heightened adrenaline levels.

Youngblood was removed from the squad car and placed in a transport vehicle with a cage before he was taken to a hospital.

Officers obtained a warrant to draw Youngblood’s blood for an operating-while-intoxicated investigation, during which time deputies heard him say he was under the influence of meth, according to the affidavit.

Youngblood was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, criminal mischief, resisting law enforcement and operating while intoxicated under a controlled substance, as well as a warrant for invasion of privacy. He was being held at the Miami County jail without bond.

The Kokomo, Indiana Tribune contributed to this story.