Upset that she could not buy more alcohol, a drunken woman destroyed a flat screen TV and other items in her Mary Street residence early Sunday morning, Johnson City police said.
Elizabeth A. Collins, 55, was arrested after police were called to a disturbance at 1734 Mary St. about 5 a.m. and found vandalized items in the living room and kitchen. Police said most of Collins' belongings had been either damaged or destroyed.
Police said Collins had been drinking heavily throughout the day and had left the home to purchase more alcohol. While walking to a nearby gas station, she had fallen down, and her boyfriend, Mark Barnett, had come to help her return home.
In a report, patrolman Jonathan Teague said a neighbor reported hearing a thud outside his window and saw Barnett trying to help Collins home, but the woman refused help and made a scene. Barnett eventually helped Collins to her feet and helped her get home.
Barnett told Teague that Collins became angry when she could not buy more alcohol and began ransacking the house, damaging and destroying items in the living room and kitchen. Police saw a flat screen TV, a computer, glassware, clothing and other damaged items scattered throughout the house.
Because of Collins' state and medical history, police called in Emergency Medical Services personnel, but Collins refused medical treatment.
After EMS left, Teague stepped outside to retrieve his personal digital assistant from his police cruiser, and Collins locked the doors. He was unable to make further contact with her or get inside to photograph the damage.
The patrolman advised Barnett to find a safe place to stay, but he chose to stay home and made a place to sleep on the front porch.
About 2:15 p.m., police returned to Collins' residence. In a court record, patrolman Christopher Arbaugh said a concerned family member called 911 because Collins was unable to care for herself and was contemplating harming herself, which Collins later denied.
Police found Collins lying on a couch covered in blood and excrement, which also were on the floor. Barnett agreed to leave the residence because of the conditions, and as he packed, Collins harassed him despite Arbaugh's requests for her to stop. She followed Barnett outside to the front yard, where she "continued to engage in violent threatening behavior," screaming profanities, Arbaugh said in the court record.
Police ordered her to stop and go back inside, but she refused. Collins was arrested and charged with felony domestic vandalism and disorderly conduct. She was jailed in the Washington County Detention Center on $5,000 bond. An appearance was set for today in Sessions Court.———Earlier report posted at 7:37 a.m.:Upset that she could not buy more alcohol, a drunken woman destroyed a flat screen TV and other items in her Mary Street residence early Sunday morning, Johnson City police said.
Elizabeth A. Collins, 55, was arrested about 4:30 a.m. after police were called to a disturbance at 1734 Mary St. and found that items in the living room and kitchen had been either damaged or destroyed.
Police said Collins had been drinking heavily throughout the day and had left the home to purchase more alcohol. While walking to a nearby gas station, she had fallen down, and her boyfriend had come to help her return home.
The boyfriend told police Collins became angry when she could not buy more alcohol and began damaging and destroying items in the living room and kitchen. Police saw a flat screen TV and other electronics, glassware, clothing and other damaged items scattered throughout the house.
Charged with felony domestic vandalism, Collins was jailed in the Washington County Detention Center on $5,000 bond. An appearance was set for today in Sessions Court.