Staff Report

Austin Taylor Hildman

WARSAW — A Columbia City man was recently arrested after allegedly battering six employees at a Bowen Center location in Kosciusko County.

Austin Taylor Hildman, 27, 301 N. Main St., Columbia City, is charged with battery causing serious bodily injury, a level 5 felony; four counts of battery resulting in moderate bodily injury, all level 6 felonies; and battery, a class A misdemeanor.

On June 8, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a report of a person out of control and injuring people at a Bowen Center facility. When the officer arrived, he saw three police officers placing Hildman into hand restraints.

The KCSO deputy spoke with a Bowen Center employee, who said Hildman became physically aggressive. According to court documents, the employee said Hildman physically picked up a Bowen Center employee off of her feet and threw her backward into a wall. During the altercation, five Bowen Center employees attempted to restrain Hildman. All of the staff involved in the altercation were injured.

The employee Hildman threw into a wall sustained a concussion. Her symptoms included vomiting, dizziness, nausea and blacking out. Officers were unable to speak with that employee at the time due to her injury.

A second employee said as she was helping with the restraining process, Hildman allegedly bit her right arm. The KCSO deputy saw the woman had visible teeth marks on her right arm.

A third employee sustained cuts to his eye and nose during the restraining attempt. A fourth employee sustained cuts to his face and forearm.

Court documents state a fifth employee experienced some head swelling and had some hair pulled out during their attempt to restrain Hildman. A sixth employee sustained injuries to her face, neck and chest.

Hildman was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on June 9, with a $10,250 surety and cash bond.