MITCHELL— Hannah Stephenson, a 37-year-old Mitchell resident, was arrested on September 28 for allegedly violating a protection order.
Officers from the Mitchell Police Department were initially dispatched to the police station after Stephenson expressed a desire to report a domestic situation at her home. However, upon arrival, Officer Jordan Taylor found that she had left the station before they could speak with her. Dispatch informed Officer Taylor that Stephenson had returned home despite attempts to persuade her to stay at the station.
Prior knowledge of the situation revealed that her 18-year-old son had been living with his mother, which is a direct violation of the existing protection order. This order, intended to keep the male safe, restricts his mother from having contact with him. Officer Taylor had previously interacted with both parties regarding domestic issues but was unaware of the active protection order until this incident.
When Stephenson returned to the Mitchell Police Department, Officer Taylor questioned her about the protection order. She confirmed that she was aware of its existence. Subsequently, she was placed under arrest, handcuffed, and transported to the Lawrence County Jail.
This incident reminds us of the importance of adhering to protective measures designed to ensure the safety of individuals in potentially volatile domestic situations.
