Lyons man accused of punching woman in front of a child
/A Lyons man who allegedly threw a woman out a door, punched her numerous times and slammed her up against a vehicle in front of a juvenile took off running into a cornfield when deputies arrived on the scene. He has since been arrested and is facing a felony charge.
Michael L. Pemberton, 42, Lyons, was arrested by Deputy Michael Stanley of the Greene County Sheriff's Department last Friday morning, September 9, on a warrant for Pemberton's arrest that was issued as a result of an investigation by Deputy Sergeant Jordan Allor assisted by several other GCSD deputies.
The deputies responded to a trailer on South Walnut Street in Lyons around 6:45 PM on Saturday, September 3, after Greene County Dispatch got a report that a man, later identified as Michael Pemberton, had battered a woman in front of juveniles.
When they arrived in the area, the woman was leaving in a vehicle with the juveniles. Sergeant Allor located her to speak with her while other deputies went to the trailer and attempted to locate Pemberton.
Sergeant Allor reported the woman said she didn't need an ambulance, she was fine and nothing had happened but he noticed bruising under an eye and marks on her face plus she was crying. She said they just got into an argument and she left and she did not want him to go to jail. She explained that she bruises easily and that he had grabbed her face a week before but did not hit her. She admitted they got into arguments every day. On that day, the argument started inside the trailer.
One witness on the scene said he could hear the two yelling at each other and while he was in his yard he saw Pemberton throw the woman out the front door then throw items at her and then he started slamming her against her vehicle while a child was watching. He said Pemberton then came after him but he had an adjustable wrench in his hand. Another witness also said she saw Pemberton hitting on and punching the woman.
When another deputy spoke with family members of Pemberton who were inside the trailer when the argument started, they all said the argument was verbal only and there was no physical altercation.
However when the deputies first arrived at the trailer, they reported Pemberton fled the scene and went running off into a cornfield south of the residence.
A report on the incident was submitted to the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office and a criminal case was filed against Pemberton on Wednesday, September 7. A warrant was issued for his arrest the same day and he was taken into custody by Deputy Stanley early Friday and booked into the Greene County Jail at 6:26 AM with bond set at $4000 surety with 10% cash allowed. He has since posted bond and been released.
Pemberton is facing a charge of domestic battery committed in the presence of a child less than 16 years of age, a Level 6 felony. His initial hearing in Greene Superior Court is set for September 22.