Dirty diaper left outside door sparks fight between neighbors

Police cite one woman for battery, disorderly conduct

MADISON, Wis. — A fight broke out between two women after one of them discovered a soiled diaper and moved it to the doorstep of the other woman Sunday afternoon.

Police said a 32-year-old woman told officers she was “frustrated” and admitted to moving the dirty diaper to the doorstep of a 30-year-old woman who lives in a nearby Northport Drive townhouse, according to a Madison Police Department incident report.

The 32-year-old said she was frustrated because she believed a family member of the 30-year-old had called her a name, and that this name-calling came right around the time she discovered the dirty diaper, according to the incident report.

Police said the incident led to a physical confrontation between the women, with the one who had the diaper at her doorstep last receiving the brunt of the physical injuries.

The officer noted the 30-year-old had a large bump on her forehead, a bleeding cut above an eyebrow, with more on her arms and an ankle. There were also scratches “that were possibly caused by fingernails” on her chest and on a shoulder, police said.

The 30-year-old said the injuries happened after she came outside as her neighbor was making noise about the discarded diaper. As she stepped out, she says the 32-year-old woman swung a battery charger for some type of electronic device and struck her in the forehead.

During the ensuing struggle, the 30-year-old said the woman also grabbed her by the hair which caused her to fall off a small retaining wall. She believed this is when she struck a brick or block, causing the injury to her eyebrow, police said.

The 30-year-old said the other woman hit her, and she kicked back. There was pushing, but the 30-year-old said she didn’t remember any scratching.

The 30-year-old said the fight ended when she pulled a grocery cart in between them. The 32-year-old woman claimed the woman “threw the cart,” causing her an ankle injury, according to the incident report.

Assessing injuries to both, the Madison police officer determined the 32-year-old would be cited and released on charges of battery and disorderly conduct, according to the incident report.

The officer advised both women to avoid the other, and that if one tried to provoke something in the future, that the other should call police.

In the end, it was never clear to the investigating officer just who had soiled the diaper, according to the incident report.