The call came in on a November night in Linville, Louisiana: a neighbor refusing to leave a driveway, shouting into the darkness. Deputies with the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office prepared for a routine disturbance, unaware of the bizarre scene that awaited them.
Upon arrival, they found not an angry neighbor, but a nude woman swimming in a pond on the complainant’s property. The woman, later identified as 41-year-old Erin Elizabeth Sutton, initially refused to acknowledge the deputy’s presence, lost in a world of her own making.
“I’m trying to be a mermaid,” she reportedly told the officer, her words echoing across the still water. Repeated requests to come ashore were ignored, a strange standoff unfolding under the Louisiana stars.
Eventually, Sutton emerged from the pond, shivering in the cold. Emergency medical services were called to assess her condition, and a blanket was offered as the deputy attempted to guide her inside for warmth. That’s when the situation escalated dramatically.
Without warning, Sutton charged at the deputy, ignoring commands to stop. A taser proved ineffective, and a struggle ensued. She fought with relentless force, kicking and punching the officer as he attempted to restrain her.
Even as she was taken to the ground and secured, Sutton’s resistance didn’t cease. During the transport to a local hospital for further evaluation, she allegedly unleashed a torrent of threats against the deputies and paramedics.
Arrest warrants were subsequently obtained, detailing a litany of charges: three counts of resisting an officer with force or violence, two counts of public intimidation, two counts of battery on a police officer, disturbing the peace, and criminal trespassing.
On January 6th, Sutton surrendered to authorities. Her bond was set at $62,000, marking the culmination of a night that began with a trespassing complaint and descended into a chaotic and unsettling encounter.
The details of the incident paint a picture of a woman in crisis, her actions fueled by an unknown combination of factors. The case now moves forward through the legal system, leaving behind a trail of questions and a lingering sense of bewilderment.
