‘PTSD moment’ cited as Batesville woman faces felony animal cruelty charge

A Batesville woman is facing a felony animal cruelty charge after police say she severely injured her dog at an apartment complex Wednesday afternoon, an incident she later described to officers as a blackout rage she couldn’t fully explain.

Gretchen Nicole Hines, 34, was arrested March 18 after Batesville Police Department officers responded to 99 Lawson Drive around 2:12 p.m. following a call about a woman injuring a dog at the complex. Hines is charged with one count of aggravated cruelty to a dog, cat, or equine, a Class D felony under Arkansas law.

Because Hines has more than one but fewer than four prior felony convictions, she is additionally charged as a habitual offender, which makes her subject to an extended term of imprisonment under Arkansas statute.

Corporal Miguel Romero arrived on scene and found Hines attempting to leave. Romero detained Hines, at which point she made a series of spontaneous statements, according to a probable cause affidavit filed March 18 in Independence County Circuit Court.

Hines told officers she did not want to return to jail, that she had forgotten to take her medication, and that she had experienced a “PTSD moment” in which she blacked out. She also told Romero that her dog was not dead but “just severely injured” and was being taken to a veterinarian.

In a separate statement to Officers Bobby Montgomery and Jeffrey Tate, Hines said she had come home to find her apartment in disarray, tripped over the dogs, and blacked out. She said that when she came to, she had an object in her hand and was striking the animals.

The injured dog, described as a medium-sized mixed breed, was found on steps near the end of the apartment complex, where bystanders were tending to it. Animal Control Officer Ross Nelson took possession of the animal, which was later transported to a local veterinary clinic. According to Investigator Shane Hightower, the dog will require surgery.

A review of scene photographs taken by Officer Jeffrey Tate revealed at least three large lacerations on the dog that appeared to expose muscle tissue, the affidavit states. Investigators noted the injuries would have caused the animal “intensive and prolonged pain.”

The boyfriend of Hines, who was away from the apartment at the time of the incident, told investigators that Hines called him and told him she had “chopped up the dog,” while a friend of Hines, who drove to the scene, told police that Hines had called her, admitted to hitting the dog in a rage, and asked to be taken to a mental hospital.

Hines is being held on a $100,000 bond.