Church bus violence leads to arrest

Authorities say a dispute on a church bus Sunday evening led to violence and a Muncie woman's latest arrest for battery.

One of the alleged victims Sunday was a one-month-old infant.

Lori Ann Utsler, 46, of the 1500 block of North Macedonia Avenue, was being held without bond in the Delaware County jail, preliminarily charged with battery on a person under the age of 14, and two counts of battery.

According to a police report, a Muncie couple — ages 24 and 23, respectively — told an officer they were attacked by Utsler while riding a bus home from St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 1707 E. 26th St., about 7:30 p.m.

Her accusers said when they "asked Lori to quiet down, because (their infant) was sleeping," she struck them both in the back of the head with a "hard plastic water bottle."

Utsler then allegedly hurled the bottle, which struck the infant in the forehead as water splashed all over the baby girl's face and clothes, the report said.

An officer wrote the baby "had a small red mark on her forehead," but no other apparent injuries. Her parents took the baby to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital "as a precaution," he added.

Utsler, arrested at her home, was already the target of a warrant issued in Muncie City Court, where she faces three unrelated battery charges, all filed since last November.

Two other battery counts filed against Utsler — in January 2011 and October 2013 — were later dismissed.