The final straw was a limb

LISA HOBBS

News Editor

An effort by the Town of Viola to clear a derelict structure concluded Thursday morning after the arrest of a disgruntled neighbor.

Taken into custody on July 30 was Tatum Leigh Trussell. According to Warren County Sheriff’s Office, she was charged with Disorderly Conduct, Assault on a First Responder/Officer, and Resisting Arrest. She allegedly struck Warren County Lt. Allison Dunford, who was assigned to monitor the property during the clean-up effort.

According to Viola Mayor Trent Prater, law enforcement assistance was needed due to a longstanding strife between Trussell and Warren County Sanitation Department employees who were removing the structure.

“We purchased the property for $4,000,” said the mayor. “We asked the county’s Sanitation Department if they could clear it off for us. They agreed. All we had to pay were the fees from the transfer station. Back in 2025, they came to demolish the building. That was the initial clean-up effort on it.”

When work kicked off, Prater was out of town. However, Prater says he received a call from Sanitation Department Director Josh Roberts regarding an irate Trussell.

“They had to cut a tree limb out of a tree to get the dump truck in there,” stated Prater, relaying the conversation. “Apparently, the limb was in her tree. She came over when they started cleaning it up and said, ‘do what you’ve got to do on my property, because I’m glad you are cleaning it up.’ He never thought anything about asking, because she said do whatever you need to do. So, they just cut the tree limb. She came out cussing them up one side and down the other.”

That limb was the proverbial straw.

“When I got back in town, I went over to her house and tried to talk to her,” Prater stated. “I even offered to get her a new tree, but she told me to get the [expletive] off her property. She said to have my lawyer contact her lawyer and that she would be suing. I left.”

Prater says they stopped working on the property and waited for a lawsuit to be filed, but one wasn’t. So, the decision was made to move forward at 5 a.m. on Thursday and clean-up what remained on the property.

“I knew what would happen,” Prater added.

Per a Warren County Sheriff’s Office incident report obtained by Warren County Way, Trussell, “Came onto the town property and was screaming/exhibiting aggressive behavior” and ignored Lt. Dunford’s orders to stay on her property and stop causing a disturbance. After failing to comply with two warnings and continuing to cause a disturbance, the lieutenant moved to take Trussell into custody.

“Ms. Trussell failed to comply by putting her hands behind her back and struck Lt. Dunford in the face/neck area with her right arm. Ms. Trussell continued to resist arrest and was ultimately assisted to the ground.”

The clean-up effort then continued.

Warren County Way reached out to Director Roberts, who declined to comment.

Complete incident report:

On Thursday, July 30, 2026, Lt. Allison Dunford was requested to monitor a property that was being cleared on Viola Road. The town of Viola was having a property they owned cleared by Warren County Sanitation Department, Josh Roberts. The resident at the neighboring property (10241 Viola Road), Tatum Leigh Trussell, came onto the town property and was screaming/exhibiting aggressive behavior. Due to Ms. Trussell's screaming, she annoyed nearby neighbors, prompting them to halt their daily activities. Ms. Trussell was advised two times to stay on her property and stop causing a disturbance. Ms. Trussell failed to do so and continued screaming, therefore, Lt. Allison Dunford attempted to place Ms. Trussell under arrest for Disorderly Conduct. Ms. Trussell failed to comply by putting her hands behind her back and struck Lt. Dunford in the face/neck area with her right arm. Ms. Trussell continued to resist arrest and was ultimately assisted to the ground. Ms. Trussell was placed under arrest and transported to the Warren County Jail.