A Linton man and woman were arrested after police responded to a domestic dispute, but not on charges relating to her claim of battery. Instead, they’re both facing a felony drug charge.

Michael James Allen Tomes, 33, and Brenda Joellen Payne, 28, both of Linton, were arrested by Linton Deputy Police Chief Deb McDonald on Saturday, November 16, after McDonald was dispatched to a domestic incident.

At the time of the dispatch, around 1:50 p.m. that Saturday, McDonald was busy on another call so Officer Jake Gambill of the Jasonville Police Department responded and was first to arrive at a residence on 2nd Street NW in Linton. When McDonald arrived, Payne was in front of the house talking to Officer Gambill while Tomes was sitting inside.

Officer McDonald said Payne claimed that Tomes had hit her in the face and both officers then went inside to talk to Tomes. Tomes said he didn’t hit Payne and that she was lying. Then he went on to talk about “Lisa, Kathy and Jennifer” also being there. When asked where they were now, he said they went outside with Payne, but the officers did not see anyone else around.

While Officer McDonald waited with Tomes, Officer Gambill conducted a safety sweep of the residence to check for the other individuals. He didn’t find anyone, but he saw a glass smoking device on the kitchen table in plain view. It field-tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine.

Both Tomes and Payne wound up at the police department for interviews. According to McDonald, visible injury to Payne did not coincide with the story she told and Tomes has not been charged with battery.

But Tomes did allegedly admit they had both used the glass pipe and that he had “snorted dope” that day. He also said he rarely “uses dope” – only when they can afford it.

McDonald reported Payne first denied knowing anything about the pipe or using it then later admitted she and Tomes had used it to smoke methamphetamine. She allegedly said she buys drugs in a small quantity when she can afford it.

Both were booked into the Greene County Jail a little after 4 p.m. and were held without bond until their initial hearings.

When they appeared in Greene Superior Court, both were charged with possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony, and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.

Bond for Payne was set at $4,500 surety with ten percent cash allowed. Bond for Tomes was set at $15,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. Public defenders were appointed to represent both.

Shortly after, the public defender representing Tomes filed a motion for his bond to be reduced. Today, Monday, November 25, that motion was denied.