HELTONVILLE — The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department investigated a domestic incident that occurred on the night of Saturday, November 8, resulting in the arrest of a Heltonville couple on multiple charges.
Chelsey Wyatt, 32, was arrested and booked into the Lawrence County Jail following an investigation by Deputy Kyle Long and Deputy Kaden Flynn. Her husband, Kyle Wyatt, 40, was also arrested.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the incident began at approximately 8:08 PM on November 8, when LCPD Central Dispatch received a 911 hang-up call from near the Wyatt residence. Upon calling back, dispatchers spoke with Kyle Wyatt, who stated his wife, Chelsey, had driven away with their children while intoxicated but had since returned.
Deputies Long and Flynn responded to the residence. They first spoke with Kyle Wyatt, who was outside loading a vehicle, and advised that he and Chelsey had been drinking and had a verbal argument. He directed deputies to the old Heltonville School, where Chelsey had reportedly parked.
At the school, deputies located a maroon GMC Acadia with the lights on and several juveniles inside. Deputy Long made contact with the driver, Chelsey Wyatt, who admitted to driving from her residence to the school after arguing with her husband. The deputy noted her eyes were glassy and detected an odor of alcohol.
Chelsey Wyatt consented to field sobriety testing, which she failed.
A portable breath test administered at the scene yielded a result of 0.241 BrAC (Breath Alcohol Content). After being transported to the Security Center, a certified breath test conducted by Deputy Long, an Indiana Department of Toxicology-certified operator, yielded a result of 0.195 BrAC. In Indiana, operating a vehicle with a BAC of 0.08 or greater is illegal, and a BAC of 0.15 or greater results in an elevated charge.
Chelsey Wyatt was subsequently placed into custody and faces charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, OWI endangerment, and neglect of a dependent.
While Chelsey Wyatt was being booked, additional details about the initial altercation at the residence emerged. Reserve Deputy Shaun Cabral was informed by the children that the argument between their parents had become physical.
When Deputy Long spoke with Chelsey Wyatt again, she admitted that Kyle Wyatt had pushed her while she was holding her young daughter. She stated that neither she nor the child was injured. She also reported that a stepdaughter intervened by striking Kyle with a baseball bat. Chelsey declined to press battery charges.
Further evidence came from two of the male children, who provided written statements at the police station. They reported that both parents had been drinking heavily and that Kyle had pushed their mother while she was holding their sister, prompting their other sister to intervene with the bat. One of the boys also stated that, in his anger, Kyle grabbed him by the shirt and lifted him off the ground.
Based on the information gathered regarding the physical altercation in the presence of the children, a warrant was requested for Kyle Wyatt’s arrest. He was detained on November 22 on a charge of domestic battery in the presence of a minor.
The Department of Child Services was contacted, and a report has been filed. The children were placed with a family member. The North Lawrence School Corporation has been notified to assist the children.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the Probable Cause Affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
