An argument over donuts and milk escalated and ended in the arrest of a Jasonville man on charges of domestic battery in the presence of a child less than 16 years old. 

Thomas Lee Russell, 47, Jasonville, was arrested on March 4 by Greene County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Harvey Holt. 

Holt was dispatched to the Shakamak Inn, located on West Main Street, for an active domestic dispute. The caller stated her husband tried to “rip her mouth out of her face” and Greene County Dispatch could hear a male yelling in the background. 

Upon arrival, Deputy Holt and Deputy Zachary Goad found Russell, the victim and the child sitting outside the apartment. The victim alleged, “he (Russell) tried to rip my mouth out.”

Deputy Holt asked Russell to explain what had happened. Russell told Holt, according to the probable cause affidavit, that he and the child had gone to the store to get donuts for everyone. Russell also got milk for himself and the child. He didn’t bring milk home and alleged the victim started throwing that in his face. He said they began to argue and both got a little pushy. Russell alleged the victim was the first to push, then he pushed back. He noted the child was in the room but ran out. 

The victim said she and Russell began to argue when he returned to the apartment. She told officers she was nitpicking about milk. According to the probable cause affidavit, she said he grabbed her face with both hands, digging his thumb into the bottom of her mouth. She said he pushed her down onto the bed and continued squeezing her face pretty hard with both hands while his thumb was still in her mouth. She alleged she punched him as he was letting go of her. She rated her pain as an eight out of 10.

Deputy Holt spoke with Russell again, and according to the probable cause affidavit, he said his thumb might have gone into the victim’s mouth by accident when he grabbed her. He alleged he was just trying to get her to stop yelling.

She sustained minor injuries to the inside of her mouth, according to the probable cause affidavit. Officers observed minor cuts to her lower gum area, redness on the inside of her cheek, and a small cut below her tongue with a small amount of blood around it. 

Russell was transported to Greene County Jail where he was being held on a surety only bond. 

He is being charged with domestic battery in the presence of a child less than 16 years old, a Level 6 Felony.