Altercation in lingerie section leads to arrest

A physical altercation between two women in a store’s lingerie section around 2 a.m. resulted in the arrest of one who has been charged with battery resulting in bodily injury and meth possession.

Brandy Jean Wilkes

Brandy Jean Wilkes, 40, Linton, was arrested on Sunday, December 29, by Officer Joe Riley of the Linton Police Department.

Officer Riley, the investigating officer, and Officer Nick Yingling, both of the Linton Police Department, were dispatched to the Walmart store in Linton at 2:16 a.m. on that Sunday after a woman said she had been battered by Wilkes in the lingerie section.

When the officers arrived on the scene, Officer Riley talked to the injured woman while Officer Yingling searched for Wilkes who was located in the women’s restroom at the rear of the store.

The probable cause affidavit prepared by Officer Riley indicates there was tension between the two women over a man.

Officer Riley reported the woman had an open wound on the top of her head, a cut on her lip and redness on her chest just below her neck.

The woman allegedly said the two had known each other for years and have a “history.” She said she was shopping when Wilkes ran a cart into her cart, got in her face then shoved her. She said she tried to defend herself but Wilkes hit her multiple times in the head, face and chest and pulled her hair.

According to the affidavit, Wilkes told Officer Yingling that she was on her way home when she saw the woman pulling out of her (Wilkes) driveway and then followed the woman to the store to confront her. She allegedly said when she confronted her, a physical altercation took place but she couldn’t say who made the first physical contact.

Wilkes was placed under arrest and when officers conducted a search of her belongings, they reported finding two plastic bags with a substance that field-tested positive as methamphetamine, and two plastic bags with a substance that field-tested positive as marijuana.

Wilkes was booked into the Greene County Jail before 3:30 a.m. She was held without bond pending her appearance in court for her initial hearing on Thursday, January 2.

Wilkes has been charged with:

• Possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony,

• Battery resulting in bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor, and

• Possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor.

Her bond was set at $6,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. She has since posted $600 and been released.

Officer Riley noted the altercation that took place was captured on the store’s surveillance cameras.