BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington man was arrested on a warrant Monday after an Indiana State Police sting operation.
According to a probable cause affidavit, 32-year-old Robert Collins faces charges of domestic battery resulting in injury to a person less than 14 years old, two counts of criminal confinement of a minor, and two counts of strangulation, and two counts of domestic battery.
On March 14th at 10:53 p.m. a woman went to the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department and met with a deputy outside.
The woman told the deputy about a domestic fight. The officer said the woman was upset and crying and had a cut on her lower and upper lips, she also suffered bruising to her arms. The child suffered bruising.
The woman told police she wanted to file charges against Collins for injuring her daughter.
The woman reported she and Collins had spent the day together with no issues, however between 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Collins became mean to the children ages 12, 10, and 8.
She stated she and Collins began arguing about the treatment of the children.
He then lunged at her with a closed fist, as if he was going to hit her.
She asked Collins to leave the home. He went outside and she thought he had left, however, he returned back inside and slammed the bedroom door.Â
He continued to yell at the woman. At that time her 12-year-old daughter entered the room to check on her. Collins told the girl she was being disrespectful and the child left the room. The woman then attempted to get everyone out of the house while Collins was still in the bedroom. At one point the daughter and woman entered the bedroom and told Collins again to leave. That is when Collins began yelling at both of them and grabbed the girl by the throat with his left hand and grabbed the woman by her throat with his right hand. He then pushed them both against a nightstand and caused them both to hit their heads against the wall.
The woman then stated Collins slapped her and punched her in the face.Â
The woman and her daughter were finally able to get free of Collins and fled the home. At the same time Collins got into his truck with his children. The woman told deputies she thought he was going to ram her vehicle with the truck.
The woman signed a battery affidavit, but officers were unable to locate Collins.
The information was sent to the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office and warrants were issued for Collins’ arrest.
If you or someone you know is involved in a domestic violence situation and needs help, call Hoosier Hills PACT 24-hour crisis line at 1-888-883-1959 or visit their website at https://www.pactchangeslives.com/
The agency can provide emergency assistance with shelter to those in domestic violence situations. Hoosier Hills Pack also provides assistance with court advocacy, protective orders, education, outreach programs, support groups, and more.
