Mt. Vernon boys basketball coach Ben Rhoades arrested, charged with OWI
Mt. Vernon boys basketball coach Ben Rhoades is facing a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated following his arrest early Monday morning after leaving Horseshoe Indianapolis Casino in Shelbyville.
According to an incident report filed by the Shelbyville Police Department, officer Devin Moore was dispatched to the casino at 12:38 a.m. Monday for a report of a possible intoxicated driver after a phone call with casino security, who had red carded (requested to leave casino/cut off from any further alcohol) a man who had left the casino parking garage.
According to the police report, Moore watched Rhoades’ vehicle cross the double yellow center line twice. In the report, Moore detailed Rhoades failed three field sobriety tests and provided a .218 BrAC on a portable breath test. He refused a certified chemical test, but after a warrant was served, he was transported to the Major Hospital emergency room for a blood draw at 2:14 a.m. and was transferred back to the Shelby County Jail.
Rhoades, 44, was released on bond. There is a hearing set for 8:30 a.m. Thursday at Shelby Superior Court 2.
In a statement provided to IndyStar, Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation said the following: "MVCSC received notice that an employee, Mr. Ben Rhoades of Mt. Vernon High School, has been arrested and was released this weekend. With it being a personnel matter, we have legal limitations and are not able to share anything further. Pursuant to our policy, we have placed the employee on leave while the situation is under review.
"Mt. Vernon High School staff will be supporting the classes and students impacted during his absence. Mt. Vernon will continue to stay committed to providing academic excellence for all Mt. Vernon students and will strive to ensure this situation does not alter an optimal learning environment for all students. We will remain diligent in ensuring nothing minimizes that priority while we provide support for our students and staff."
Rhoades is in his fifth season at Mt. Vernon with a 74-42 overall record, leading the Marauders to sectional titles each of the past two seasons. He was an assistant under current Perry Meridian coach Mark James at Franklin Central and Ben Davis prior to being hired at Mt. Vernon. The Marauders are 13-8 going into their final regular-season game Friday vs. Yorktown and open in Class 4A Sectional 9 against host Muncie Central on March 1.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Mt. Vernon basketball coach Ben Rhoades arrested, charged with OWI
