HANCOCK COUNTY — A woman accused last week of impaired driving with two small children in the vehicle was soon linked to a residential burglary earlier the same day.
Kaylee Anita Faye Brown, 25, Greenfield, has been arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including a Level 4 felony count of burglary of a dwelling stemming from an incident on Wednesday, April 15.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Brown was arrested by a Hancock County sheriff’s deputy that day after reports that a van was driving erratically and at high speed on U.S. 40 in the western part of the county.
Deputies eventually caught up with the vehicle near County Road 700W and U.S. 40. The driver, who had two children younger than 3 years old in the vehicle, appeared to be impaired, the affidavit stated.
Earlier in the day, the sheriff’s department had responded to a report of a burglary at a residence in the 8000 block of East U.S. 40. Among the items taken were electronic equipment and a bottle of alcohol, and the victim identified Brown as a person of interest in the crime.
Later in the morning, a sergeant who had heard the woman’s name broadcast during a report on the impaired driver alerted the deputies that a woman named Brown was a possible suspect in the burglary earlier that day.
From there, a deputy on the scene was able to retrieve from the van the items stolen in the burglary, the report said. During a search of the vehicle, deputies also found two syringes and a gray substance they’ve sent to be tested.
In addition to the burglary charge, Brown also has been charged with four Level 6 felony counts: theft; neglect of a dependent; operating a vehicle while intoxicated-endangering a person; unlawful possession of a syringe; and possession of a narcotic drug. She also faces a Class B misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana.
Brown made her initial appearance Monday, April 20, in Hancock County Circuit Court via video in front of Judge Scott Sirk. The judge entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf and set bail at $4,000 cash. She posted bond and was released, according to court records.
A pretrial conference is set for July 16.
A passenger in the van, Christopher Arbuckle, 29, Indianapolis, was charged with a Level 6 felony count of theft. He had not appeared in court by the Daily Reporter’s deadline Tuesday, according to court records.
