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You're correct that there is no active search function...it's been turned off for a long time.
#1. The lowering of the shoulder is simply a clue that may not even be relevant at all. The first question is what was the defender doing? Did the defender have legal guarding position? It sounds like the defender did have LGP...the defender stepped laterally relative to the dribbler (and not towards the dribbler at the point of contact) such that the 2nd defender was fully in the path of the dribbler. Any torso to torso contact at that point would be the fault of the dribbler. The lowering of the shoulder just makes it easier to recognize. If the defender had been stepping towards dribbler at the time of contact, the lowering of the should would not be an issue...it would be a defensive foul.
#2. A player can draw a player control fouls (some of which are charges) facing any direction and need not have legal guarding position if stationary. If in motion, they must have LGP which must start (but need not end) with both feet on the floor and facing the opponent and in the path of the opponent. After meeting those creiteria, the player may move laterally, jump, turn, or duck to absorb the contact (but not do so to add to the contact). To establish an initial legal guarding position on an opponent with the ball (a dribbler) the defender need not obtain the position until just before contact. (Note that there is no such thing as being set).
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