GreeneStreets. Feature photo of a back country road in Greene County, Indiana.


Warrant out for man already arrested twice in less than two months

An eastern Greene County man has been arrested twice since the middle of March. In both cases, he’s accused of domestic battery. In the second incident last week, he’s accused of jumping up and down on a cell phone to prevent a woman from making a call.

Carl Retzlaff

Carl Retzlaff

Carl Dean Retzlaff, 63, of rural Bloomfield, was arrested last Wednesday, April 24, by Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Davis Aerne.

Deputy Aerne responded to a home on North Deer Lake Drive after a woman called 911 around 9:42 p.m. to report her husband, Retzlaff, had battered her and smashed her cell phone. She also claimed he had threatened her with a gun the night before. She said he had been drinking and she did not think he remembered it happening.

When Deputy Aerne arrived and talked to the woman, she explained how Retzlaff had taken her cell phone and jumped up and down on it. She said she was then attempting to get to the landline to call 911 but he grabbed her by her arms and pulled on her.

When Aerne talked to Retzlaff, he allegedly admitted the two had an argument but said they’d both been drinking and he went to bed to avoid confrontation. He said he did not threaten her and that he did not take her cell phone.

Retzlaff was taken into custody, transported and booked in to the Greene County Jail where his bond was set at $2,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. He has since posted bond and been released.

In the earlier case, Retzlaff was arrested on March 14 by Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy David Elmore. His bond in that case was also set at $2,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed and he posted bond and was released.

In the earlier case, he’s been charged with domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor, and intimidation, a Class A misdemeanor.

In the latest case, he’s been charged with domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor, and interference with the reporting of a crime, a Class A misdemeanor.

In both cases, Defense Attorney Carl Salzmann of Bloomington was retained to represent Retzlaff and initial hearings were waived.

In the earlier case, Retzlaff had entered into a negotiated plea agreement and a change of plea and sentencing hearing was set for May 8, but after his latest arrest, a petition to revoke his bond in the earlier case was filed.

On Monday, a warrant was issued for Retzlaff’s arrest.