A woman who has been arrested twice before for inhaling toxic vapors until she went unresponsive was taken to the hospital in another incident a couple of weeks ago. Just a few hours later, when officers were dispatched again, she was taken into custody.   

Crystal Renee Overton, 33, Washington, Ind., was arrested by Officer Bobby Pierce of the Linton Police Department early Tuesday, November 16, following incidents that started on Monday night, November 15.

Around 9:30 p.m. that Monday, LPD Dispatch got a call from an employee of the Walmart store in Linton who said a woman who was in a red Chevrolet Malibu parked in the store’s parking lot appeared to be having medical issues. He said she was slouched over, unresponsive, but was shaking and trembling. He also said he saw what he thought was a dark can of Lysol in her hand.

Officers were dispatched but before they arrived, the employee said she had regained some alertness and tried to take a drink but still didn’t realize he was nearby. He later said he witnessed her inhaling fumes from a can.

The woman was identified as Crystal Overton when Officer Pierce and Officer Alan Jackson arrived at the same time as Greene County Rescue. At that time, Overton was drooling but was responding somewhat to ambulance personnel.

Officer Pierce reported seeing several empty cans of “Dust Off” compressed air in Overton’s vehicle.

Officer Pierce said as the EMTs continued to tend to Overton, he talked to her and witnessed slurred speech, drooling, lethargic movements and largely dilated pupils. She denied she had taken or used anything and said she was fine.

Overton did not consent for a search of her vehicle and was answering questions when she began vomiting uncontrollably. After a brief argument, Overton agreed to a medical exam and was transported to Greene County General Hospital.

Then around 12:20 a.m., LPD Dispatch got another call from a different employee of the Walmart store who said Overton was back in her vehicle in the parking lot, huffing something. The employee said she knocked on Overton’s window, but Overton would not speak to her.

Officer Pierce, Officer Jackson and Officer Cayden Walker responded. Officer Pierce said they watched as Overton inhaled fumes from a can of “Dust Off” then went unresponsive, shaking, trembling uncontrollably and drooling.

Officer Jackson opened the vehicle door and removed the can and an ambulance was requested. Overton refused medical attention but then went unresponsive again.

Overton was taken into custody and transported to Greene County General for a medical check. After clearance, she was transported to the Greene County Jail where she was booked in at 2 a.m. with bond set at $500 surety with ten percent cash allowed. She has since posted $50 and been released.

It was later determined that Overton had been trespassed from all Walmart properties last February.

When Overton appears in Greene Superior Court for her initial hearing, she will be formally charged with:

• Criminal trespassing, a Class A misdemeanor, and

• Inhaling toxic vapors, a Class B misdemeanor.

This is the third time Overton has been arrested and charged with inhaling toxic vapors in Greene County. Court records show her past criminal record also includes charges of inhaling toxic vapors in cases filed against her in Daviess County and Pike County though the charge in Pike County did not result in a conviction.

Click on the tag “Crystal Overton” below this story to find the previous stories with details about the other incidents in Greene County.