Melissa A. Laney, 53, faces preliminary charges of battery on a police officer, resisting law enforcement and possession of marijuana after an encounter at the Springville MiniMart, at 60 Brick St.[1] The Bloomington woman was arrested on Monday 26 October 2026 outside a Springville business after reportedly fighting with officers and biting an officer twice.[1] According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Deputy C. Pruett of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, deputies and emergency medical services were sent to the mini-mart after a store employee reported that two people in a white GMC pickup appeared slumped over and unable to sit upright.[1] On arrival, deputies contacted the male driver and Laney, the front-seat passenger with a small dog in her lap; both were conscious, alert and eating, and the keys were not in the ignition.[1]
In plain view on the dashboard, deputies saw a clear plastic zipper bag of a green leafy substance that field-tested positive as marijuana and weighed eight grams, next to a cylinder grinding tool.[1] The driver got out and was detained without incident.[1] Laney resisted when Officer B. Fulkerson of the Springville-Lawrence County Independent School Corporation tried to help her out of the truck, and deputies pulled her to the ground, where she kicked, flailed and tried to punch them.[1] Authorities stated that she bit Fulkerson twice during the struggle to handcuff her, on the left tricep and the right wrist, breaking the skin, and Officer S. Hickman of the Oolitic Town Marshal’s Office helped subdue her.[1]
A search of the truck found a loaded black Glock 43 pistol in the driver’s side door, four glass smoking devices and paraphernalia.[1] The driver said he did not know about the marijuana or the firearm and that the truck belonged to Laney’s family, and he was released at the scene because his license was suspended.[1] Laney was taken to the Lawrence County Jail and booked.[1]
