Bellmead woman charged with burglary and assault on elderly woman

BELLMEAD, Texas (KWTX) – A Bellmead woman was released from jail Friday after being arrested on charges of entering a home and assaulting a 72-year-old woman after rummaging through her purse for a house key.

Crystal Dawn McCartney, 39, posted $5,000 bail after her arrest on Thursday on charges of third-degree assault on an elderly person.

According to an affidavit, Bellmead police were called to the 1400 block of Woodbine Avenue on Thursday, where the victim told them that McCartney – the daughter-in-law of the victim's sister – had entered the apartment and tried to get a key from her purse.

The victim told police that she tried to stop McCartney and that McCartney hit her and threw her to the ground.

A witness told police that the victim told McCartney she did not want to let her into her home, but McCartney forced her way in. Part of the incident was captured on video, which shows McCartney hitting the victim several times and throwing her to the ground, the affidavit states.

The victim was treated at home by medical personnel but refused to be admitted to the hospital, the affidavit states.

McCartney, who left the house before officers arrived, walked back to the house and was arrested by officers. Officers said they found a house key while searching McCartney.

After her release from jail, McCartney called KWTX and said she went to the apartment to check on her mother-in-law's dog and to try to get a spare key to her house. McCartney said her mother-in-law was in the hospital.

McCartney said the woman attacked her and she acted in self-defense.

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