Violent 'Teen Mom' in hot water again as cops answer domestic disturbance

ANDERSON, Ind. (Herald Bulletin) - In the past few weeks, Anderson-native Amber Portwood, star of MTV’s “Teen Mom,” has been the subject of tabloid fodder, and on Tuesday night, the 20-year-old created another headline for the newsstands when police responded to a domestic disturbance at her boyfriend’s home.

In the early morning hours Wednesday, deputies from the Madison County Sheriff’s Department responded to a domestic disturbance at the home of Gary Shirley and removed Portwood from the home, according to an official with the sheriff’s department.

According to outside media sources, Portwood had been kicked out of Shirley’s home while wearing nothing but underwear after she threatened to attack him over a text message he received when police were called to the home.

Deputies took Portwood from the property and dropped her off at another address for the night.

Portwood’s violence toward Shirley is the subject of an Anderson Police investigation.

Mitch Carroll of the Anderson Police Department said the couple met with detectives on Wednesday, giving formal statements in response to allegations that Portwood abused Shirley in an episode of “Teen Mom” that aired in September.

An incident in which Portwood repeatedly hit, kicked and slapped Shirley was broadcast a month ago on the popular reality series, “Teen Mom.”

The fight prompted the police investigation as well as an investigation by the state department of child services.

Anne Houseworth of the Indiana Department of Child Services said Thursday that the agency had an open assessment into the case, and that the investigation could take 30 days.

Houseworth said the investigation’s conclusion would have one of two outcomes:

1. Investigators would find that allegations against Portwood are unsubstantiated

2. Or they will find that the allegations are valid and the report will be sent to the local prosecutor for further review.

A judge would need to determine if Portwood could lose her daughter, she said.

“Obviously, there’s a court process,” Houseworth said. “A judge would have to order the removal. In general, if a child is considered a child in need of services, the judge can make a determination whether or not it would be in child’s best interest to be removed from the home.”

Houseworth could not say whether DCS officials were requesting that Portwood’s daughter be removed from the home.

This story comes from 24-Hour News 8's news partner, The Herald Bulletin in Anderson.