Elizabethtown Clerk-Treasurer Arrested, Denies Wrongdoing

ELIZABETHTOWN — Elizabethtown's clerk-treasurer is denying any wrongdoing after being arrested following a Monday night city council meeting.

Shirley Nugent, 50, was booked into the Bartholomew County Jail at 7:16 p.m. Monday on a preliminary charge of battery, jail staff confirmed. She was released early Tuesday morning on $355 cash bail.

The arrest appears to be the latest installment in a feud between Nugent and City Council member Levi Brown that records show dates back to at least October 2021.

The 6 p.m. city council meeting had already been adjourned when Brown said he wanted to discuss topics including criticism of a city business that has not been accused of wrongdoing, said Nugent. As she and other council members tried to clear City Hall, Brown refused to leave, the clerk-treasurer said.

Because she was the only one with the key to City Hall at 104 West St., Nugent said she felt obligated to stay as other allegations were made among those still in the building. She claimed Levi Brown called the Bartholomew County Sheriff's Department to accuse him of hitting his wife, Brandy Brown. When investigators discovered a red mark on Brandy Brown's lower right back, Nugent said that's when she was placed under arrest.

There were several recordings of the meeting, including a Facebook Live stream, which Levi Brown said would support his story.

“(Nugent) was angry and she hit my wife,” Brown said. “It wasn’t like a full-blown punch or anything like that. She came from behind yelling, screaming and swearing.

Brown said he felt like an outcast on the city council.

“All I try to do on the city council is keep everyone informed and be fair to the city,” Brown said. “They don’t like me and are trying to get rid of me.”

The conflict could date back to when Levi Brown was cited for having too many broken down vehicles in his garage. Online court documents include a document listing Brown as a contact. The document alleges that other council members and city residents are also guilty of violating city ordinances and includes several accusations against Nugent.

According to Nugent, Brown had also used social media to make false statements that prompted her to sue Levi and Brandy Brown for defamation.

In Bartholomew Circuit Court, a mediation agreement dated August 25, 2023 states that the Browns agreed to refrain from making any public statements about Nugent's past criminal conduct.

They also publicly acknowledged that Nugent had never been charged with crimes against children. But Nugent herself was also ordered to stop making public statements about the Browns.

The agreement also states that the Browns and Nugent are only allowed to have contact with each other during city council meetings. It provides for a penalty of $1,000 for each violation of the agreement.