Wingfield Home Invasion: Woman Breaks Through Glass, Resident Holds Her From Inside Until Deputy Arrives

Darren Doyle, story:
A Wingfield woman is facing multiple charges after she was arrested at a home invasion shortly after midnight on Wednesday, February 27th, according to the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office.

Officials said that the sheriff's office responded to a call of an active home invasion in the 4800 block of Wingfield Church Road around 12:30am early Wednesday, at the home of Roy (Noots) and Redea Simmons. A deputy reported that when he arrived on scene, he witnessed a woman later identified as Carolene Griffin, (45) also of Wingfield, attempting to enter the Simmons home. 

The deputy said Griffin had broken the glass of a door to the home with her hands and that she was being held by Mrs. Simmons on the other side of the door.

Mrs. Simmons described what happened during the event.

"We heard someone kicking the door so we got up to see who it was," she said. "That's when we saw this woman trying to kick the door in. She was turned around backwards and kicking it like a mule. We told her just to leave us alone but we could tell she was high on something, I don't know what was wrong with her but she was using all sorts of bad language and wouldn't leave. She'd leave the door and go around to the porch side and then I really got scared because I thought there might be someone else there, maybe a man."

Mrs. Simmons said the woman continued to try to open the door so she put her weight up against it and held it until the woman actually broke through the glass with her hand.

"She broke the bottom part of the glass on the door and when her arm came through, I held on to it from inside my house. She used her other arm and broke through another piece of glass and she reached in and grabbed the curtains, so I grabbed her other arm. I had a hold of both of her arms and I wasn't going to let her go."

She said that she fought to hold on to Griffin's arms for another 10 to 15 minutes until a deputy arrived. She also said that the woman kept asking for "Jessie," obviously someone that didn't live there.

The sheriff's deputy was able to quickly subdue the woman and place her under arrest, according to authorities. She reportedly was unable to identify herself and she told the deputy she had no idea how she got there.

Griffin was charged with:

• Assault 4th Degree-minor injury
• Criminal Trespassing
• Alcohol Intoxication at Public Place

The sheriff's office said that Mrs. Simmons received minor injuries to her arms but she refused medical treatment at the scene. Mrs. Simmons said the woman had cuts on her arms.

"She got cut through the pane glass, which I didn't really care," said Mrs. Simmons.

Griffin was transported to the Hart County Jail.

The Simmons' said they had never seen the woman nor knew anything about her. 

"Anymore, this can happen to anybody, day or night," said Simmons. "You just can't never tell anymore."