A Bull Shoals woman being booked into the Baxter County Detention Center faces an extra accusation of grabbing a jailer’s arm and digging in her fingernails. Fifty-four-year-old Melanie Whitman is facing a felony count of second-degree battery on a police officer.
According to an incident report from the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, a jailer advised Whitman had slipped her handcuff off when she was being booked Tuesday evening. Another jailer came to assist Whitman into a jail uniform, but Whitman reportedly said not to touch her. When the jailer went to grab Whitman’s arm, Whitman instead allegedly grabbed the jailer’s arm, dug her fingernails into the skin and refused to let go. A third jailer arrived and drive-stunned Whitman twice.
Whitman let go of the jailer, and once authorities got her undressed, there was no further incident. The victim was reportedly bleeding from Whitman’s nails and had scratch marks on both arms.
Whitman was also facing charges of disorderly conduct and refusal to submit to arrest. She was released on a bond of $5,760 nearly 36 hours after being booked.
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