Staff Report

Brandon A. Ripley

COLUMBIA CITY — A Columbia City man was recently arrested for allegedly battering a young child.

Brandon A. Ripley, 29, 2083 Bobwhite Lane, Columbia City, is charged with domestic battery resulting in bodily injury to a person under the age of 14, a level 5 felony; and domestic battery committed in the presence of a child, a level 6 felony.

On Oct. 30, a Columbia City Police officer responded to a domestic disturbance. A woman said Ripley began yelling at a young child and hit the child’s face with an open hand. The woman said the child was believed to be autistic.

According to court documents, when the woman confronted him, Ripley shoved the woman and pushed her face down toward the ground. The officer noticed bruising above the child’s right eyebrow.

Officers located Ripley after he left the scene. Ripley said the woman hit him first and battered him because he was disciplining a child.

Ripley was booked in the Whitley County Jail on Oct. 30.