Last Friday, December 31, 2021, at approximately 6:13 p.m. Lawrence County Central Dispatch received a 911 call from the Springville Store at 60 Brick Street in Springville. The caller advised that he had been shot in the head and that it had occurred at another location.

Deputies from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office arrived and made sure the scene was safe for fire and EMS to respond. Perry Volunteer Fire Department and Lifeline Ambulance provided medical assistance at the scene and the victim, identified as Brandon Penman from Columbia City Indiana, was transported to IU Health Bloomington Hospital by Lifeline ambulance. Chief Deputy Gregg Taylor and on-call detectives were called in to continue the investigation.

The victim advised deputies that he was shot by Cody Trowbridge and it was determined that the shooting occurred at 1643 State Highway 54, Springville. It was also determined that the victim, Brandon Penman, was wanted on a warrant for Operating While Intoxicated out of Whitley County, Indiana. Mr. Penman was treated and released from IU Health Bloomington Hospital, arrested by Indiana State Police on the active warrant, and transported to the Lawrence County Security Center where he was booked in at approximately 11 p.m. on December 31, 2021.

Investigators were able to determine the location of the suspect, Cody Trowbridge, at a residence at 722 Lincoln Avenue, Bedford. Investigators were able to obtain search warrants for both 1643 State Highway 54, Springville and 722 Lincoln Avenue, Bedford. The search warrants were executed at both locations with the assistance of the Bedford Police Department’s S.W.A.T. Team at the Bedford address. The suspect was taken into custody without incident. Both the suspect’s and the victim’s vehicles were impounded for further investigation. The suspect was booked in to the Lawrence County Security Center at 12:35 a.m. on January 1, 2022.

SUSPECT: Cody L. Trowbridge, 33 years old, 1702 C Street, Bedford, arrested and booked on the following:

Attempted Murder (Level 1 Felony),
Aggravated Battery (Level 3 Felony),
Battery with a Deadly Weapon (Level 5 Felony) and
Obstruction of Justice (Level 6 Felony).
Additional charges are being considered.

VICTIM: Brandon S. Penman, 36 years old, 853 Hawthorn Lane, Columbia City arrested on an active warrant for OWI out of Whitley County.

The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office thanks its deputies and detectives, the Bedford Police Department and Indiana State Police for their assistance in bringing this investigation to a safe conclusion.

Anyone with additional information about this case may contact Detective Michael Ramos at the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office at 812-275-3316.