A Noble County man is behind bars after police said he allegedly assaulted a woman. She was later found dead inside her apartment on Spruce Street, police said.

Caldwell city police arrested Edgar Poland, 48, Saturday. They got a call that Poland allegedly assaulted his neighbor, Alberta Crawford, 43, police said.


After Poland was booked into the jail, an officer returned to the apartment to check on Crawford and found her dead, police said.

Neighbors and business owners said it's shocking to hear.

"It's a nice, peaceful town we have here, very nice," said Larry Reed, who owns a barber shop across the street from the alleged assault. "That kind of stuff doesn't happen around here often. But it did. It happens everywhere."

Noble County sheriff's deputies were called to the scene, and the Sheriff’s Office is now handling the investigation. The county coroner was also called to the scene and will perform an autopsy.

Charges are pending against Poland until the coroner has determined the autopsy results and cause of death.

Poland already faces a charge of disrupting public services. His bond is set at $25,000.