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Read comments (34)The Bloomfield Police Department is also continuing to search for Carlton since she was reported to be a missing person over the weekend.
Carlton was last seen Saturday evening, July 12. She was on the Veteran's Memorial Bridge which carries State Road 54 over the river. Later that evening, she was seen standing in the water under the bridge.
On Sunday, she was reported to the Greene County Sheriff's Department as missing and Conservation Officers began searching the river in boats equipped with side-scan sonar units.
On Monday, officers were still searching but in the afternoon, Public Information Officer Max Winchell said flood conditions and swift current had forced officers to scale back their efforts.
Winchell said water levels had risen since Saturday, the White River was above flood stage and not expected to crest until Tuesday.
"Due to the rising water and extremely swift currents, officers are discontinuing the use of side-scan sonar but they will continue to patrol the river and perform a visual search," said Winchell.
Besides the swift current, officers on the water were faced with entire trees, roots and all, traveling downstream, both above and below the surface.
"They are patrolling a stretch of 12 to 15 miles downstream from the bridge. They will continue to patrol from early in the morning until late in the evening," said Winchell.
Winchell said there is no confirmation that Carlton is in the water but since that was the last sighting of her and she is a missing person, officers will continue to search.
Carlton is scheduled to appear in Greene Circuit Court on Friday at 8:30 a.m. for an initial hearing on preliminary charges of battery upon a law enforcement officer resulting in bodily injury, a class D felony; resisting law enforcement, a class A misdemeanor; and public nudity, a class D misdemeanor.
The charges stem from an incident on July 7 in which Carlton allegedly attacked a Bloomfield police officer who was responding to her 9-1-1 call for help.
Carlton was arrested but was released from the Greene County Jail on Tue., July 8, after posting $1,500 bond.
Indiana Conservation Officers are asking if anyone knows the whereabouts of Betty J. Carlton or has seen her since Saturday evening, July 12, please contact Indiana Conservation Officers South Region at 812-837-9536.
The Bloomfield Police Department is also asking for the public's help in locating Carlton. Town Marshal Ken Tharp suggested additional contact numbers for the Bloomfield Police Department at 812-384-4114 and the Greene County Sheriff's Department at 384-4411 and asks anyone with information to please call.
Oh! Thanks Suziecreamcheese. Now let me get this straight...Gary Indiana is in the house. That explains everything!
Joeha, hizouse is urban slang for the word house.
This lady's sister lives next door to me and told me of it just yesterday. I have not seen or heard of it on the news. (TV or radio) Who knows where this will end. The sister says Betty was not quite right in the head. By the way..can anyone explain to me what a hizouse is?
So, Was it the Cheif of Police who should have contacted the Judge?
Is the Judge contacted on every arrest? This was City wasn't it? not County? I wasn't aware that an officer couldn't make the eval. that someone needed psych. instead of jail.
ya'll be off the hook down there in greene county! gary indiana is in the hizouse!!
Well said John. And thank you for your service. I really appreciate what you guys do everyday to help keep us safe. And I pray for you all daily. My remarks aren't meant to cause problems they are meant for us to stop and think. Like my log in name says research before you comment...Maybe I should do a little more researching. I truely took the remarks as bashing the law enforcement. I will have to re read the article. As far as taking things written here to personal. I do because if I didn't feel a certain way I wouldn't write it. You do have a right to your opinion and I am not trying to change it. I also have a right to my opinion and I probably feel stronger when it involves police, medics or anyone that is in public service. Thanks for hearing me out. Have a good and safe weekend
I am a firefighter/emt localy, and happen to know many of the officers involved in this incident. I hope they dont see the kind of insinsitive comments posted here. If you have never had the misfortune of dealing with someone who is mentaly unhealthy and concidering takeing their own life, its not always cut and dry "shes crazy put her in a mental ward" I have come accross people who seem to be compleetly fine at the time, however were far from "O.K." We (law enforcement, firefighters, and medics) rairly if ever show signs that a recent incident bothers us except to those we care for and trust. It is difficult dealing with a situation like this, and I can say from my experience, we do lose sleep over this kind of stuff. We are usualy the first to second guess our actions, our own hardest critics. So as far as blameing the emergency services community, please dont, we have enough stress as it is.
With respect to the use of force comments, in the state of Indiana officers are allowed to use one level higher of force than what is presented against them. In other words if you punch them they can spray you taser you, or use a baton on you (within guidelines reguarding proper use)If force that could cause the loss of life, or the impairement of a body appendage or organ, (including but not limited to; breaking an arm, pokeing out the eyes or impacting or squezeing the testicles) against an officer (or anyone for that matter) the use of deadly force is permited. With that said, when she grabed the officers genitals, under use of force the officer would be justifyed in useing deadly force. The officer opting for the taser could not be concidered excessive.
With reguards to why she was taken to jail insted of the hospital, the judge could have issued an emergency detintion order, I beleve that is the only way that she could be placed in a mental facility at the time of arrest against her will. I personaly feel her family should have been the first to find her help long ago.
In closing, I would like to leave you with a quote that I cant remember the source of but I feel highlights the publics view of all emergency services..."The good that men do is oft intured with the bones, while the evil they brought will live on forever"
John Sherer
I've read the "police bashing". Seems a LOT of the comments/postings get quickly deleted... on both sides of the story... that is why a lot of the postings sometimes don't make sense.
researchbeforeyoucomment, I don't read where anyone is "bashing police" in this thread. Questioning a judgement call and the proper handlng of this incident is hardly "bashing police" in my opinion.
I think too many people who post on this web site take it way too seriously. Nobody who writes anything here has an obligation to be thankfull, unjudgemental, unaccusatory, or anything of the like. If someone wants to blame the police, let them. If someone wants to blame the family, let them. This is free speech, and there's usually no point in trying to change another person's opinion. I just honestly think that not a whole lot of what is written here - even by me - changes a darn thing.
P.S. - researchbeforeyoucomment: By the way, I AM moving away. Sorry for y'all's loss..........
gracielynn well said. I think there is more people who live in the county that believe the way we believe. I am just tired of all the negativity surrounding our county. to those who don't like it here...move
researchbeforeyoucomment, I said basically the same things in a previous post that was deleted. A previous story said that the woman is already being treated for a mental condition. If she is being treated, she has already been diagnosed and is on medication. Maybe she wasn't taking it or isn't taking it properly. Who knows?
Anyway, until you know the facts and the outcome of the disappearance, don't place judgement on those who were only doing their jobs.
Thanks Hoosier4Life I am the mother of a police officer,paramedic, fire fighter and first responder as well as on the SWAT team. So I know how dedicated these guys and gals are. My son always puts others before himself. And I have seen him after he comes back from a incident. One more thing, everything he does he does to serve his community. The only job he gets paid from his is paramedic job. He risks his life daily for those few that don't appreciate it. I have seen him come home so upset and not be able to sleep because of what he has seen. We really should pray for them daily and show them some respect instead of being ready to bash them. I don't know why they do it. It must be the same reason our military does what they do. Because they love and care about us and our country. The jobs they do and the decisions they make aren't always easy. Please people you really should look at them a little differently. Give them the benefit of the doubt. And next time you see one of them thank them and let them no you are praying for them.
researchbeforeyoucomment - well said! It looks like you have some common sense!
I hope the lady is okay and I pray for the family. I know you are scared and you do have a lot of people praying for her safe return. After having said that now I would like to add. You know I was thinking if police officers were smart they would all find a new line of work. I can't imagine why they would open themselves up to nothing but complaints and no respect. It seems to some people all they want to do is blame Law enforcement. Don't place the blame on those that have known the lady her whole life or close friends. Another thing when she bonded out of jail did she walk out or did someone come and pick her up? If she was picked up and someone bonded her out. I am sure they were informed of the reason for her arrest. Why didn't they take her to the hospital? You would think that the people that are around her whould know she was having problems. The police deal with strange people all the time and they wouldn't know if that was the normal behavior for her or not. I have a sister that is bi-polar and she has had a few run ends with law enforcement and medics. We didn't expect the police to make a diagnosis or send her to a mental institution or hospital. It isn't there job. I am sure if they had done that someone would of let them know they aren't doctors and shouldn't determine her state of mind. And probably sued the police department for the hospital bill. We as a family should intervene. I would be ashamed to blame those that put their lives on the line everyday while on duty or off to save your life, rescue your family member,pet or just come to your house cause you heard a noise late at night and you are scared. I realize sometimes they may not act the way the public thinks they should. But,you are not in the situation they are in at the time they make a decision. To those who trash police why don't you stop your complaining and go apply for a police job. Maybe you could do a better job!!!!
Yes this is a tragic incident that could have been avoided if the police officers would have identified her state of illness and instead of locking her up, taken approriate measure to secure her safety and taken her to the hospital for an evaluation. In the correctional setting, inmates get better treatment than this woman did. This woman called for help and what she got is tasered, locked up and possible death. Officers sometimes have seconds to make a decision, this officer obviously made a poor decision and his actions should be investigated. The officers probably found this incident comical, I bet they don't anymore, I wonder if it ways heavy on their minds.
It sure is easy to bash the police during a tragic incident as this. However should the family not be held accountable when bonding the lady out of jail? Or even a family member who was familiar with her alleged state of mental illness? How about a neighbor that interacted with her? The Police Officer responding to the call reacted to a situation and the public seems to have hours and even days to analyze it. This truly is a sad situation and I pray all will turn out ok. BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS SINGLE HANDEDLY IS THE FAULT OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY NOR THE FAULT OF THE JAIL DIVISION. For all the people commenting on her illness, why didn't you step up to the plate and assist her efforts in seeking help? If you think the jobs of Law Enforcement Officer are so easy feel free to apply!!!!!!
my comments about her being ill an should have been taken to the hospital instead of being jailed then she paid the bail an now she is missing,, the police department an all who was involved should be ashamed of treating someone who is mentally ill the way they did, tazering her,, my comments were deleted also, is this free speech or not, lets see if this one makes it in the paper, god bless this lady an i hope she gets another chance to get to the hospital an get the help she needs.
I commented on the "naked lady" story on here and expressed my concerns of excessive force and that she should have been taken to Bloomington Hospital for an eval....and the readers blasted me for saying what I said...and NOW look, she is missing. Police have the training, ay least I hope they do, to recognize that is a person is a threat to other people or themselves...they don't go to jail, they go to the hospital for an eval!!
I said the same thing as susiecreamcheese but my comment was deleted. I pray she is found alive and is taken to a place she can get the help she needs to be healthy! God Bless
i also agree with susiecreamcheese
i agree with susiecreamcheese
My sympathy and prayers go out to her and her family...
You said it so well, old linton native, I totally agree and makes one think. I pray she is found and can get the help she needs.
When she was seen at the river she was approached and asked if she was alright and she stated yes she was just cooling her feet. She seemed fine, people go down by the river all the time sight seeing and fishing, nothing out of the ordinary.
The BPD improperly handling a situation? I don't buy that...especially after they shot a couple of harmless dogs a few years ago.
What was printed by either newspaper is trivial and beside the point of this matter.
This woman was obviously in need of help, afterall she did indeed call 911. Apparently she was feeling somewhat "out of sorts" which was proven by her irrational, and quite possibly uncontrollable, behaviors.
My question is ... did the officers involved use bad judgement resulting in the use of unreasonable force in this particular incident and under the circumstances involved? I am not concludig to any decision but this is indeed a possibility and, I must admit, the proper handling of this incident is indeed very questionable. I believe this matter merits further investigation.
I pray this woman is found alive and truly gets the help that she was intially crying out for.
I concurr with zenos.
When she was arrested last week, I wonder if she was ever taken to the Bloomington Hospital for a mental examination? If not, and the police just let her out of jail on bail on her own recognizance, somebody could be in some really BIG trouble. If the police and/or courts missed an opportunity to get this woman some help, and she ends up drowned, it will be a shame to the community.
EggMan - I was wondering the same thing. If she was with family or friends, why did they not get help ASAP. Sounds like someone wanted her to be gone.
What I'm wondering is who saw her in the water and why they didn't try to get her out of the water?
Isn't this the same woman who was running Bloomfield naked a few days ago?
I hope the discusting way the Free Press reported this story didn't embarrass the poor woman so much that it might have lead to this situation.
At least the Daily World reported it in a respectful manner. Thank you GCDW for professionally reporting this story.
If I am not mistaken, this missing woman is the same one that generated a local headline "NAKED WOMAN RUNS AMOK".
While I do not know this woman nor the cirmunstances surrounding her arrest, just from the headline "Running AMUCK" I believe one could surmise that this was a person in need of help and compassion.
I hope and pray that when the whole story comes out, we find that she was at least offered that help and compassion by our county and not just booked and sent on her way.