Killeen Daily Herald
BY ERIC E. GARCIA | TELEGRAM CITY EDITOR
September 2, 2023

A Temple woman — naked and running around a barn — is accused of attacking a Bell County Sheriff’s deputy who responded to an assault call.

The incident involving Ariel Nicole Strange, 26, occurred June 3 near mile marker 311 off Interstate 35 in Bell County.

Deputies responded to the area after a man reported he was attacked by a naked woman before she ran toward a barn. The victim was bleeding from his head, according to an arrest affidavit.

“The deputies approached the barn and saw the woman running toward the railroad tracks,” the affidavit said.

Deputies reached Strange at the railroad tracts.

“She pushed Deputy (Robert) Landes with both arms before being taken to the ground,” the affidavit said. “On the ground, she kicked the side of Deputy Landes’ head, causing him to fall. She stood up, picked up a stone and threw the stone at Deputy Landes’ head, causing minor injury.”

The woman initially identified herself as “Ariel Flame” as she was taken into custody and told deputies her intended to kill herself. An emergency order of detention was prepared for her, the affidavit said.

After the woman was processed, a deputy was dispatched to an abandoned car near the area where the woman had been wandering.

“The vehicle contained a driver’s license belonging to Ariel Nicole Strange,” the affidavit said. “Deputy (Mary) Minnick recognized the photo from the driver’s license as being the woman who assaulted Deputy Landes.”

Strange was indicted Wednesday by a Bell County grand jury on a charge of assault of a peace officer/judge, a second-degree felony.

Strange was released from the Bell County Jail on July 31 after she posed a reduced bond of $7,500.

State District Judge Wade Faulkner, who presides over the 478th District Court, ordered Strange to reported to Central County Services MHMR or another mental health provider for an evaluation within seven days after her release. She also must keep up with follow-up appointments with mental health providers and is required to take her prescribed medication, court records show.