Woman Arrested for Strangling 12-Year-Old Girl During Argument Over Line-Cutting at Fall Festival

A 33-year-old woman in Evansville, Indiana, allegedly attacked a 12-year-old girl during a confrontation over line-cutting at the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival on Friday evening. The incident occurred just before 8 p.m. as police detectives, working security for the event, witnessed a heated argument between Kristin Burnett and another woman.

According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, Burnett became agitated when someone cut in front of her in line for an amusement ride. As tensions escalated, a 12-year-old girl, who was in front of the women, attempted to diffuse the situation by offering Burnett her spot in line. The affidavit states that the girl approached Burnett in a “non-threatening manner,” believing she hadn’t heard her.

However, Burnett responded violently, grabbing the young girl by the throat and forcibly pushing her against the gate of the amusement ride.

Three officers immediately intervened to restrain Burnett. During the altercation, a man named Michael A. Flemming Jr. attempted to hold Burnett back from the officers. A detective had to flash his badge to both Burnett and Flemming to make them aware that he was law enforcement.

Burnett has since been arrested, with police investigating the incident further.