BEDFORD — A Bedford woman was arrested September 4 after police responded to multiple 911 calls about a woman reportedly standing in a roadway, stopping vehicles and yelling, according to a Bedford Police Department probable cause affidavit.
Jessica Abner, 46, of Bedford, was arrested on allegations of disorderly conduct, three counts of intimidation, and public indecency, according to the affidavit filed by Bedford Police Officer A. Manke.
Officers were dispatched at approximately 8:40 p.m. on September 4th to the area of 16th and Q streets following multiple 911 calls concerning a woman wearing a tank top and gray shorts who was reportedly in the roadway, stopping vehicles and yelling.
While officers were responding, they received additional information that the woman had gone to the John Lowery Municipal Pool parking lot and was harassing pool employees.
Officer Manke reported arriving at the pool and observing Sgt. Crulo speaking with a woman later identified as Abner.
According to the affidavit, Abner told officers she was yelling at lifeguards and people nearby because she believed she had witnessed a child being kidnapped and placed inside a green container.
Officers searched the surrounding area but were unable to locate a child or any situation matching Abner’s description, according to the affidavit.
Police continued speaking with Abner, who reportedly maintained that a child was being abducted.
Officers advised Abner that she could be arrested for disorderly conduct based on her behavior in the roadway and for allegedly threatening city employees, which had resulted in multiple 911 calls.
An ambulance was requested to evaluate Abner and potentially transport her to a hospital, according to the affidavit.
While Abner was speaking with Sgt. Crulo, police allege she made an unsolicited comment about genital itching and then rubbed her genital area in what Officer Manke described as an indecent manner.
Abner was placed in handcuffs while IU Health personnel evaluated her. According to the affidavit, she initially said she wanted to go to the hospital for treatment but later repeatedly said she did not want to go.
While Abner was being evaluated, another officer spoke with employees at the municipal pool.
The pool manager reportedly told police he was inside the facility when he saw employees returning from taking out the trash. He said the employees began running back toward the building after hearing a woman yelling at them, according to the affidavit. The employees reportedly told the manager they needed to lock down the facility. Police allege Abner followed the employees and stood outside the pool fence in the parking lot while yelling at and threatening them.
The pool manager reportedly told officers that Abner was looking directly at him and the employees when she threatened to “beat their asses up.”
Abner was detained and transported to the Lawrence County Jail.
Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
