On Tuesday, August 26th, Andrea Lauren Whitaker, a 40-year-old woman from Wills Point, was arrested for assaulting a bailiff during a child custody hearing at the Van Zandt County Courthouse. The Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office responded to an alarm at 2:39 p.m. indicating urgent assistance was needed.
According to the report, Whitaker caused a disturbance during the hearing, leading Judge Joshua Wintters to order a bailiff to take her into custody. Whitaker resisted arrest and struck the bailiff, but the bailiff managed to subdue her. Whitaker was taken to jail and is charged with assault of a public servant and resisting arrest. She will also serve 180 days in jail for contempt of court. The bailiff did not require medical treatment. The Canton Police Department also assisted at the scene. Whitaker’s bond is set at $55,000.
