UPDATE: Additional charges filed in hostage situation in Mishawaka, shooting of suspect deemed justified

UPDATE TWO: The St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office found Officers Zachary Alfrey and Nathan Bachman to be justified in the shooting of Chad Bean.

Per the December 2025 release from the prosecutor's office:

"Here, concerning the officers who discharged their firearm (Officers Zachary Alfrey and Nathan Bachman), a reasonable person would have been justified in using deadly force due to a reasonable fear of imminent death or significant bodily injury. Therefore, this office has determined that officers Alfrey and Bachman were justified in doing so."

The prosecutor's office noted that the full investigation will be referred to the Mishawaka Police Department and the St. Joseph County Police Department for their own internal review of department policy.

UPDATE: According to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office, additional charges have been filed in connection with a hostage situation in Mishawaka in which 53-year-old Chad Bean fired shots at law enforcement and officers returned fire. 

That additional investigation has now been turned over to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office for evaluation.

Based upon the full investigation in which investigators found that Bean had fired at officers a total of 15 times, the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office has filed additional charges against Bean.

The additional charges included six counts of Attempted Murder, Level 1 Felonies. 

Bean was injured during the encounter with law enforcement; he is currently under watch in the hospital and in stable condition. 

Upon release from medical care, Bean will be transported to the St. Joseph County Jail pending trial. 

ORIGNAL STORY: 

On Monday, the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office charged the suspect, identified as 53-year-old Chad Bean, with five counts of Criminal Confinement, Level 3 Felonies, two counts of Stalking, Level 4 Felonies, and one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, a Level 4 Felony.

Sunday's hours-long standoff occurred at a home on Conner Drive.

The Mishawaka Police Department and St. Joseph County Metro SWAT Team responded to the scene to rescue five hostages, which included children.

Bean was then shot by officers on scene. According to MPD and the St. Joseph County Police Department, each department has one officer on paid administrative leave.

Bean remains in critical condition at the hospital according to police.

SBPD's Violent Crimes Unit has taken over the investigation due to the officer-involved shooting in this case.

Police say at the investigation's conclusion, all facts, evidence, and statements will be forwarded to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office to decide whether further charges are appropriate.

You can read the full probable cause affidavit in the case below: