An initial court hearing was held Sept. 15 for a 38-year-old Linton woman arrested Aug. 27 on a preliminary charge of domestic battery.

Alan Jackson, an officer with the Linton Police Department, responded to a call on 7th Street Southeast regarding a domestic battery incident in the late evening hours of Aug. 26. The caller reported Rebecca Nickle was hitting her in the face.

When Jackson arrived on the scene, he was met outside by Nickle who said the victim had been headbutting her and been unruly. While talking with Nickle, the victim opened a second story window and said Nickle had bloodied her nose from a punch. Nickle alleged she had done nothing to the victim.

The victim exited the residence and stood by Jackson’s vehicle with Bobby Pierce of the Linton Police Department while he continued to obtain Nickle’s statement. Nickle told Officer Jackson she took the victim’s phone away and that the victim had headbutted her as well as pulled her hair.

When speaking with the victim, Jackson observed blood on her upper lip and chin which appeared to have come from her nose. The victim said the two were arguing because she wanted to have friends over and Nickle said no. While in the bathroom the victim, according to the probable cause affidavit, said Nickle wrapped her arm around her neck from behind and began choking her. She said she headbutted Nickle during this time to try to get her to stop choking her. The victim said Nickle fell, causing the toilet to break and then punched her in the nose causing it to bleed. The victim mentioned she believed Nickle was drunk during the incident. In the probable cause affidavit, Jackson noted he could smell the odor of alcohol coming from Nickle’s breath while talking with her.

Nickle told Officer Jackson said when she entered the bathroom, the victim was kicking and screaming and had broken the toilet. She said she had her arms wrapped around her in an attempt to get the phone from the victim. She claimed the victim was headbutting her with the back of her head. No visible injuries were found on Nickle while pictures of the victim’s injuries were taken and documented.

Nickle was transported to Greene County Jail where her bond was set at $1,000 surety with 10 percent cash allowed. She posted $100 and was released later the same day.

She appeared in Greene Superior Court Sept. 15 where she was formally charged with domestic battery, a Class A Misdemeanor.