A rural Bloomfield woman is accused of pointing a handgun at a tow truck driver and three other individuals who had permission to use the woman’s driveway to tow a couple of vehicles located on an adjacent property. She told them to get off her property. When officers were called, she told them to get off her property too.

Britney N. Bell, 40, is facing a preliminary charge of pointing a firearm at another person – firearm unloaded, a Class A misdemeanor. Court records show Bell is from Bloomington but she was living at a rural Bloomfield address at the time of the incident.

Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy James Carpenter was dispatched to a residence on South Black Ankle Road, Bloomfield, at 8:59 a.m. on Sunday, November 29, after someone reported a woman, later identified as Bell, had pointed a firearm at a tow truck driver.

When Deputy Carpenter arrived, a man explained he had two vehicles he wanted to tow off his property. He said his property was “landlocked” and he had gotten permission from the male resident (where this incident took place) for a tow truck to use the resident’s driveway while removing the vehicles. But when the tow truck driver arrived and attempted to get to the vehicles, Bell came out of the house waving a gun at the tow truck driver and another person with him, and then waved it at the man who owned the vehicles and another person who was with him.

Deputy Carpenter also talked to the tow truck driver and the other individuals who were there to confirm the man’s story. They also said Bell had threatened to shoot anyone on her property.

Before approaching the woman’s residence, GCSD Deputy Harvey Holt arrived to assist along with Indiana Conservation Officers Max Winchell and Greg Swanson.

When Deputy Carpenter knocked on the door, Bell yelled back that she wasn’t coming out and to get off her property. Several attempts were made to talk to the woman.

Then GCSD Chief Deputy George Dallaire, who is a trained negotiator, arrived and was able to make contact with Bell and she opened the door and let Dallaire and two other officers inside.

Bell allegedly said she thought the tow truck driver was trying to tow her car and she told them not to use her driveway because it was muddy and the truck was throwing rocks on her car.

Bell said she had been at the residence for just two or three days and after being informed that her husband had given permission to use the driveway, she said she was unaware of that.

Bell admitted she had a handgun and allegedly said she told the people she had a gun but she said she did not take it outside and she didn’t point it toward anyone.

Bell’s handgun was seized.

Bell was not taken into custody at that time.

Late last week, a criminal case was filed against Bell and the court ordered a summons be sent to her ordering her to appear in Greene Superior Court for an initial hearing on February 22.