What began as a report of a stolen car quickly spiraled into a family feud that ended with two women being arrested after they allegedly started fighting in front of a deputy.
Lawrence County Deputies were dispatched after a couple reported that a woman living with them had taken their Chevrolet Malibu without permission.
The husband told deputies the woman had been staying at the home and left in his wife’s vehicle after an argument, despite being told she did not have permission to take it.
According to the report, the woman had been allowed to use the vehicle in the past and had even been making payments toward it for several months. Before driving away, she allegedly threatened to wreck or damage the car.
The couple told deputies they did not want criminal charges filed. They simply wanted the vehicle returned.
While deputies were taking statements, the woman unexpectedly drove the car back to the residence.
She claimed the couple was trying to take away a vehicle she had been paying for and said she would only return it if she was reimbursed for the money she had invested.
Deputies explained that while the payment dispute might be legitimate, it was a civil matter because the vehicle remained titled and registered to the wife. She was ordered to return the keys, and she complied.
The woman then said she wanted to file charges against the couple before asking deputies to remove them from the home.
Deputies explained that neither request could be handled as she wanted. Any dispute over the money would have to be settled through the courts, and only the property owner could begin the eviction process.
As the deputy returned to his cruiser to run information through dispatch, shouting erupted from the front porch.
Before the deputy could reach them, the two women allegedly began fighting. The altercation was captured on the deputy’s body-worn camera.
The deputy separated the women and arrested both for domestic violence because they lived together at the same residence.
A second officer responded to transport one of the women so the pair would not have to ride together following the fight.
When a Civil Dispute Becomes a Criminal Case
Law enforcement officers frequently respond to calls involving disagreements over vehicles, money, or property between family members or roommates.
While ownership disputes are generally civil matters handled by the courts, they can quickly become criminal when they escalate into threats, assaults, or physical violence.
Attorneys recommend that people involved in disputes over shared property:
- Keep titles, receipts, and payment records.
- Avoid trying to settle arguments through confrontation.
- Call law enforcement if someone refuses to return property, but understand officers cannot decide ownership disputes.
- Use the civil court system to recover money or property.
- Walk away if emotions begin to escalate.
In this case, what started as a disagreement over who had the right to use a vehicle ultimately resulted in both women being taken to jail after the argument turned physical.
