David Medina, 66, of Hobart, has been charged following an investigation into an incident in which two boys told police a man asked them to get inside his vehicle near 3rd Street and Main Street in Hobart on September 25, 2026.
At about 4:52 p.m., the boys, ages 13 and 12, approached an off-duty school resource officer assigned to the CAPS after-school program at the Hobart Community Center. They said a man in a vehicle near 3rd Street and Main Street asked whether they wanted money or anything to drink, then told them to get inside. The initial report said the man opened the vehicle door. The boys ran toward the Hobart Police Department. The officer’s report said both boys saw the man park near Sip Coffee, and one boy gave the officer the vehicle’s license plate number.
Police initially could not locate the vehicle or Medina at the address identified through a BMV records check. The boys later identified Medina after being shown his BMV photograph. BMV records listed him as the registered owner of a gray Jeep Patriot.
At about 6:27 p.m., an officer located Medina driving eastbound on 3rd Street and stopped the Jeep near Main Street. Medina confirmed his identity. He told the officer he had seen juveniles counting money and stopped to ask whether they needed money. He denied offering them alcoholic beverages or a ride to get alcohol.
During the stop, the officer reported smelling a strong odor of alcoholic beverages coming from Medina’s breath. The officer said Medina’s speech was slow and slurred, his eyes were glossy, and he fumbled through his pockets while trying to find his identification. Medina told the officer he had been drinking whiskey at his residence before the stop and was driving to the End Zone bar to have more alcoholic beverages.
The officer asked Medina to exit the vehicle. Medina was argumentative but eventually got out. When asked to walk to the front of the police vehicle, he staggered. The officer asked him to stand in a fixed position and reported that Medina swayed from side to side and used the rear of the vehicle for balance. When asked whether he would submit to standard field sobriety testing, Medina became argumentative and did not answer.
The officer offered Medina a portable breathalyzer test, and Medina agreed to take it. The test showed a breath sample of .201% BrAc.
Lodged in the Lake County Jail on October 20,2026.
Charges filed October 19 and 20th,2026
Attempted kidnapping using a vehicle — Level 5 felony (2 counts)
Attempted criminal confinement using a vehicle — Level 5 felony (2 counts)
Attempted kidnapping — Level 6 felony (2 counts)
Attempted criminal confinement — Level 6 felony
Criminal confinement — Level 6 felony
Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person — Class A misdemeanor
Operating a vehicle while intoxicated — Class C misdemeanor
