MTV hands over subpoenaed reality show footage

The Anderson, Ind., police department served a subpoena to MTV last week for extended footage of the reality series "Teen Mom," which allegedly depicts a woman abusing her ex-fiancé.

MTV turned over unedited footage of one of the reality show's teen moms, Amber Portwood, 20. Portwood is shown in one clip repeatedly slapping, punching and kicking her ex-fiancé Gary Shirley, 23, in front of their daughter.

"We're dealing with a reality TV series, and there's an editing process that goes into production and we wanted to find out [if] there was not more evidence to be found," said Mitch Carroll, Anderson's public information officer.

The abuse was first brought to the Anderson police officers' attention when e-mails flooded in protesting the segment after the episode aired in September. The twosome live within the station's jurisdiction: Portwood lives near downtown Anderson, and Shirley, who used to live with Portwood, now lives east of Anderson, said Carroll.

Officers visited Portwood's home on Sept. 29, only to find Portwood and Shirley were on vacation for a few weeks. On Oct. 20, Madison County police answered a domestic call at Shirley's house and filed a police report, Carroll said.

Carroll said MTV has been cooperative in handing over the tapes. Subpoenas must be answered within 30 days and MTV sent the tapes to the department by the next day. MTV did not return calls for comment.