Linton couple arrested on battery charges

After an officer arrived on the scene of a domestic incident between a Linton man and woman in a disagreement over a child, with the child present, DCS removed the child and both the man and woman were arrested on battery charges.

Brandi Mikael Booker

Gerald Lee Phillips Jr

Brandi Mikael Booker, 38, and Gerald Lee Phillips, Jr., 48, both from Linton, were arrested by Officer Orry Phipps of the Linton Police Department on Monday, October 4, after Officer Phipps was dispatched around 9:45 a.m. to a domestic incident on 3rd Street NW in Linton.

When Officer Phipps arrived, Booker and Phillips were standing on the front porch of their residence with a juvenile child. Officer Phipps requested assistance from the Greene County Department of Child Services (DCS) then proceeded to talk to Phillips then Booker.

Phillips allegedly said Booker had not been home for a couple of days when she arrived that morning and wanted to leave with the juvenile child. He said the child didn’t want to go and he did not want the child to go with her. An argument ensued that turned into a physical altercation as she tried to pull the child out with her and punched him in the head three times with a closed fist. The child allegedly confirmed watching Booker hit Phillips in the back of the head.

Booker allegedly said when she got there, the child was not in school and she wanted the child to leave with her. She said Phillips shoved her, causing her to fall.

But the officer talked to a neighbor who witnessed at least part of the altercation from a window. She said she saw Booker and Phillips come out of their residence and she said it was obvious they were having words with the child standing there. She said she witnessed Philips shove Booker and Booker then fell.

When a DCS family case manager arrived, the child was removed from the residence due to alleged physical abuse in the residence.

Deputy Davis Aerne of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department also arrived on the scene while Officer Phipps was talking to Phillips and Booker – Deputy Aerne was working on another incident involving Booker.

Both Phillips and Booker were taken into custody. Deputy Aerne transported Booker to the Greene County Jail and Officer Phipps transported Phillips.

Phillips was booked in at 12:36 p.m., Booker at 12:50 p.m. In both cases, bond was set at $4,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. They have both since posted $400 and been released from custody.

Phillips appeared in court for an initial hearing this morning, Friday, October 8. He has been charged with battery, a Class B misdemeanor.

Booker is scheduled to appear at an initial hearing next Thursday, October 14. She is facing a charge of domestic battery committed in the presence of a child less than 16 years old, a Level 6 felony.