Last week, a 911 caller reported a naked woman had run into his yard trying to get away from a man. Officers responded and arrested the man for battery and strangulation.

Elijah Ray Haldeman, 31, Linton, was arrested by Officer Orry Phipps of the Linton Police Department last Tuesday afternoon, April 27. Haldeman was booked into the Greene County Jail at 5:12 p.m. with bond set at $6,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. He has since posted $600 and been released.

Around 3:40 p.m. last Tuesday, the LPD got a 911 call about a woman who was naked at the caller’s property on A Street SE in Linton. The caller said the woman was running from a man that was looking around for her.

Officer Phipps responded and found both the man and the woman on the ground in a back yard where they were arguing. Officer Phipps, who recognized the man as Elijah Haldeman, said the woman was crying and hollering that Haldeman had hurt her and that he needed help. Haldeman said he was going to leave but the officer said not until he had talked to him.

When Haldeman got up and started walking away, he was ordered to stop three times. The fourth time Haldeman allegedly started yelling and swinging his arms in the officer’s direction and the fifth time, when Officer Phipps pulled his taser, Haldeman got on the ground. While being handcuffed, Haldeman allegedly started swinging his arms again but Haldeman was successfully handcuffed.

Haldeman was transported to the police department where he allegedly said he had severe anxiety, was not doing well and needed medication. He was then transported to Greene County General Hospital for an evaluation before being transported to jail.

After LPD Chief Paul Clark, who also responded, talked to the woman, he reported he had pictures of injuries the woman sustained. She allegedly said Haldeman had choked her. She said she didn’t pass out but she was unable to scream. Clark reported she had bruising on her throat that was consistent with strangulation.

Haldeman is scheduled for an initial hearing next Monday, May 10, in Greene Superior Court. He is facing preliminary charges of:

• Strangulation, a Level 6 felony,

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

• Resisting law enforcement – knowingly or intentionally forcibly resists, a Class A misdemeanor.