What? Yep, that's fine. I am so good. Sorry. I AM SO SORRY. EMERGENCY type housing, okay? He lost it. He went to destroy everything in the house. >> Behind every urgent call is a frightened child, a heartbroken mother, and a [music] father who has gone beyond the boundaries of responsibility. You better call mama. Mama. No. No. Stop. Stop fighting. Stop fighting. Today, we look into situations where one poor decision is enough to pull an entire family into serious and life-altering consequences. He agreed to pay her job. And he was going to go inside one of these rooms and receive the job and he was going to leave your son in the car. This is the mother's reaction after learning that her husband sought out an inappropriate service and their 4-year-old child alone in the car. On December 19th, 2023, officers carried out a routine intervention and encountered a man driving with his young child while intending to engage in behavior that went against accepted social standards. You're under arrest. Prostitution. I'm not even prostitution. I got my son in the car. Can I Can I call my baby mother? In just a second. We will call the baby's mother, okay? I'm not prostitution. Just be with it just a second, okay? I promise I'm not. Yeah. I wish that was the truth. I really do. How How old is he? He's 4. Okay. You go with the officer, please. Hello, how are you? Your daddy's just going to go with us and talk for a little bit. I want to call your mommy to come pick you up, okay? This is baby's mama. You weren't answering that and then just letting her know what's happening. She's going to have to come here and pick him up. We'll have to call DCF. Do I need to let her know the extent of it or just say he's in custody? She'll be interested arrested, yeah. Okay, the officer's talking to your I guess your baby's mama now cuz she's calling the phone, so. Just so you know, we have to call DCF as well. They have to be notified that we took him temporary custody of your child. Please. This is what happens. Can I just talk to my baby mother? Not right now. You wild. I haven't seen that before. My career. I've seen mom and daughter prostitution. I've never seen the Yeah. I was going to bring it up in the The mother appears visibly shaken. Without transportation or family support, she panics at the possibility that her child could be placed in an unsafe situation. Um hold on. He's right here. So, we have um mom right here. >> Okay. What's going on? All right, mommy's here. Come here. All right. Can you hold on 1 second? Of course, ma'am. We just had to arrest your husband. How? How? Wait 1 second. How did he get to pull her? Where did I need the Oh, they met at the corner and that's the undercover officer. Uh-huh. And they talked about having sex for a For you? Where is he? He went to jail. He's in jail right now. So, he got arrested. >> So, what did What was talked about what? >> Just 1 second, ma'am. We have his date of birth here. Date of birth and 11/9 of 19 He's been lying to me in my face. I am going to need you to calm down. He's been lying to me in my face. They took the [ __ ] dumb ass to Sarasota. So, guess [ __ ] what? Not my problem no more. >> Hold on 1 second. They will figure it out. I'm so [ __ ] upset because you don't know what's going on and what I have to deal with. Okay, ma'am. Real quick. Hey. I'm giving me a second, please. I can calm I just need to breathe. I'm out here by myself. I don't have no family. I don't have a license to drive. I just had to get my coworker to come get me here. I'm trying to understand what's going on because he said to me we were sitting over by the green chairs watching the water. SO, HOW DID YOU END UP HERE? Is the point I'm trying to get. >> And what I'll do is I will tell you everything that happened. All right? But the other thing we can do whatever we need to in order to get you and your son to wherever they need to go, okay? But I need to take a couple small steps here first, all right? >> No problem. I just need your first name. What exactly happened was your [ __ ] son was out here asking for who's the [ __ ] Lincoln to go to Flamingo and he got got by the [ __ ] undercover. You understand the fact that the [ __ ] man is not here right now cuz we both would have been going to the [ __ ] jail cuz I was taking somebody's and I was going to shoot And yes, I was. You do not understand what I'm GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW. JALISSA. I CAN'T [ __ ] calm DOWN, T. I CAN'T. >> ON 1 SECOND, MA'AM? BUT HOW? HOW? I HAVE NOBODY. I CANNOT drive the car. Citizen storage. I'm out here with my SON JALISSA. >> WITH NO [ __ ] family. Jalissa. >> So, what what what am I supposed to do? Jalissa, can you look at me for a second? I can make contact with >> contact with him. Okay, but listen to me. Listen to me. Because I need to know why. >> Okay. You dragged me from [ __ ] New York to out here to start over. Jalissa. How? I have my son I'm 4 hours from New York. I have nothing. The nice thing is that I have access to some unique resources, okay, for you and your son. Let's forget about Mr. Rush and let's worry about you and Jacob right now, okay? Which I will gladly help you out any way that I can. All right? Here's the issue, okay? I'm going to give you You already know what happened, so we don't need to discuss what happened with him. >> No, I need to know what happened because I'm trying to understand. So, okay. Can Do you want me I need you to stay calm if I'm going to explain it to you though, all right? Because all I care about right now is that little guy and us remaining calm for him cuz it's scary enough that he saw all these police officers here, dad going in the back of the car. I don't want to make it any more traumatic for him, okay? So, calmer you can stay for me, the better. Okay. No, you're doing great. I think you're doing great, but I just want you to continue to stay this way for me while I tell you what happened. I don't care that you're that you're yelling. It doesn't upset me. I just don't want him to be upset, okay? But I want to know where you were going to take my son. Where we were going to take him? >> You came in here to do Where were you going to take my son? >> going to tell you Like I said, I'm going to tell you exactly what was going to happen, but I need you to As she hears the full account of what her husband did, the mother gradually loses emotional control. Her trust in the marriage nearly collapses when she realizes her partner made a deeply inappropriate choice even with their young son present. He met with an undercover officer, all right? He didn't know obviously it was an undercover officer posing as a All right? He agreed to pay her for a and he was going to go inside one of these rooms and receive the job and he was going to leave your son in the car while it happened, okay? Now, look at me, this is where I need you to stay calm because I know I'd be extremely upset right now if I was you, okay? That being said, I can reach out to some resources. I don't know how much time you have paid up at the Cadillac and we can see if we can get you into some emergency type housing, okay? Okay? Yep, that's fine. He's right here. So, you work for her? Okay, where does she work? >> She works at Walgreens at Fruitville and Beneva. Perfect. Okay. Um she told me she doesn't have a license to drive, which that's no issue. We can do all the transporting or you have a vehicle? I do have a vehicle and I have a car seat, but I don't know. It's all right. He has a car seat, too. Yeah. Um but here's where I'm getting at is there are resources for moms and young children in the city. I will reach out and I will do everything right now to get her taken care of. The only question Okay. Listen to me. Listen to me. Listen I know you I know you want to call, If you if you want to go back >> Oh, yes. we can also work that out. I have resources to get you free transportation with your son back to New York. Okay. I'd need you to trust me though right now, okay? He took my son to jail. I see it. I see it. >> But he's gone now, so let's let's let's worry about you and your son right now, okay? In this situation, officers are compelled to provide maximum support to the mother both emotionally and in helping address her immediate essential needs. So, basically what we can do here is we can work on some emergency shelter options for her. We can work on a what's called a home or balance for her cuz as far as I'm concerned, if she's if she's staying in a hotel, has nowhere to go, we can easily articulate that she's essentially homeless. >> He checked out this morning and was going to be able to check back in today. That's all I understood. So, she's just paying by the day? Okay. All right. And just so you know, the the young lady that's over there talking to him, she is a police officer, but she's not the one that was involved in this case, okay? She's totally unrelated. She's just here to hang out. Yes. She's in plain clothes, so then he thinks it's just a regular person, not a cop hanging out with him. That's why she's here, okay? Yeah. Cuz unfortunately, these situations happen more frequently than you would think. Um so, if your son, we could put him inside of your car for now. Unfortunately, there's some paraphernalia in plain view, so we just have to search the vehicle. Yeah. Okay. Okay. And that's fine. He just didn't want to do Your son still wants to play like he's 17 18 and I don't have the time for you Nate at all. Honestly speaking, Honestly speaking, when your son was all this other stuff, he should have just left me alone. When he first did what he did and he wanted to know I'm sorry and let's do this and be a family, he should have just left me alone. If that's what you want to do, go ahead. Don't drag nobody with you. And it's not like it's just me and him. You have your son. So, now what are you going to explain to your son? You did another stupid mistake again. It's not the first time you did it. It's the second time. The only difference is this time I'm not pregnant. We care. So now that's two. At this point, bro, if you don't want me, leave me alone. But you know what the problem is? You don't want to see me break with somebody else. And that's what the [ __ ] is going to happen. The father was charged with solicitation of prostitution and child neglect. Under Florida law, he could face up to 20 years in prison and a $15,000 fine. One poor decision by an adult can leave a lasting impact on a child. >> [music] >> Leaving a child alone in a vehicle to pursue inappropriate actions is a boundary that should never be crossed. What would you do if your partner broke your trust and even allowed another person into the home as a direct challenge to the family stability? I would let him have the new girlfriend. This woman tried to endure the situation, only to be met with a series of uncontrolled reactions from her husband. On March 17th, 2025, officers were called after the couple's son reported a serious family dispute. The boy contacted emergency services after witnessing his father act aggressively toward [music] others and cause significant disruption inside the home. By the time officers arrived, the situation had begun to calm. Hey, why are we back out here? Christopher, why are we back out here? Oh, we're not. We're not. We're not. We're out. Yeah, how did you get that? Break him in. How did you Yeah, he wants to throw glass around. Hey, hey, bossman. That's not what happened. I got cut. It was not Let's talk over here. Stop. Christopher, let's talk over here. No, it's not a big deal. It No, it it is a big deal cuz some Cuz we're we're coming back out here again. There's clearly the car has been destroyed. Whose car is this? Okay. Why did you do that? I'm not talking to you. Please, ma'am. Please. No, but Ma'am, please. What happened? He's Okay, so why did you come and break the windows? How much did you have to drink? I haven't had any more than So why did you come and destroy the vehicle? Or at least the windows. >> She said she seriously said it's her boyfriend. I got emotional. Okay. >> Like like like honestly like Why did you guys come back? We came back and then I came back with my belongings. He still can't find my phone. Okay. He He had my phone. So how did you end up back Tell me tell me I want to leave. Okay. Like like like listen. All all all Guys, we need to shut the I'm going to leave. Well, you No one's free to go right now. No one's free to go. Christopher. Nobody's free to go. Christopher. Christopher, no one's free to go right now. So tell me what happened from step by step chronological order. >> That's all I remember. No, he is not. You're just being detained. Same as last Put your hands behind your back. Put your hands behind your back. Where's the other female at? Where's your ex? Where's your wife? Is she here? I don't know. Hey, face me. Christopher. Christopher. We need to We we had an irritation. We're good. Hey, you're not hearing me. Christopher, look at me. Talk to me. Did anything get physical between you guys? No. No, we did not get physical. Did you see Were you here for when everything happened? Yes. Okay. No, nothing was physical. Rachel, are you still going to be nearby? Okay. Like literally, you don't have to say anything. Sorry, forgot we got two adult males detained. Nobody's going to jail. Jesus Christ. We did not fight with each other. It's just it's just So tell me what happened then. The glass of the front door, dude. That's it. It's It just looks like Why Why Why It's annoying, but I guess what? It's his house. If he wants to destroy it, he You know, you can go You can go back to your car, Amber. Amber, go back to your car. Okay. That's fine. That's fine. Come here. No. No. STOP. STOP FIGHTING. STOP FIGHTING. STOP FIGHTING. STOP. Get on your stomach. Don't kick me. Get on your back. Get on your Get ON YOUR STOMACH. GET ON your stomach. ON YOUR STOMACH. STOP FIGHTING. ARE YOU RESISTING? STOP. HEY, MOVE YOUR ARM. IT'S OKAY. AMBER, CALM DOWN. Calm down. I can't help you. Stop. I got to lock them. I have to lock them. Stop moving. I didn't do anything, so there's no reason to bring me All right, you're going to stay right there. That's fine. What's up, YOU BUM? THAT WORKS. WHY? WHY? I DIDN'T ARE THEY FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER OR ARE THEY FIGHTING WITH EACH other or is that Leo? Sorry, if her shoes fight me, we got her detained. You can clear the channel. Yeah, I got this one. Okay. Stay right here. You're not going anywhere. You just said we're separating. We're getting you away from him. We're getting you away from her. Uh that Leo. Go ahead. Yeah. She was resisting, so Do you mind talking to him while I talk to mom? According to the mother, whenever the man becomes emotionally unstable, he struggles to regulate [music] his actions. The condition of the home clearly reflected a repeated pattern of destructive behavior. Come on. All right, let's go talk over here. Where's Where is uh Kaylee at? But she didn't come back? Kaylee? Okay. Hey, hey hey That's Let's talk over here, Rachel. We're going to work on She's 16 years old. Take some deep breaths. Before we got here, can you tell me what happened? I know, but what happened when we left? He came back. Tried to take the dog and So he tried taking the dogs? Judging by everything, he just came back to take them. He came in shattering [ __ ] The boy had to get a knife. He told you that earlier. Like he was all in her face. Oh my god. Take some deep breaths. You got marks on What's all the marks from? The glass? He shattered everything. >> Can I see Can I see what he shattered? Yeah, stupid. Yeah, cuz he went to playing glass. >> Let's go take a look. Do you have a trash can I can use? I got So I don't want to I don't want to cover your roof, Allison. Watch your step. You got sandals on. So this is all new. I remember this. This is all new. >> He did all this out of nowhere. And then he went and he threw a table glass from the He threw a glass table and it like exploded. Yeah, I can tell. He flipped it all by himself. >> Yeah, all of it. Okay. And then my son was trying to prevent it cuz that's my [ __ ] I didn't do this. I didn't do it. I'm not saying you did anything. I'm No, I mean they didn't They didn't fight. >> to figure I'm just trying to figure out what's going on. How did you get the scratches on your arm? Were you trying to fight him? No. I mean, I was in between them a few times. In every room he was >> put his hands on you? >> [laughter] >> There was hands on Not like did he No. Did he like grab you and move you? >> Yeah, the hands were definitely But But this was all him. Okay. Because this is this is It's every room. And I said this was coming for months. This is all he did. If he can't give you a legitimate reason, he said he's he's drunk. And he's on probation. Yeah. This is what happens when you drink. And he says he's moving. I would let him have the new girlfriend. Yeah, it's 52 and then it's our signal for battery. All right. All right, let's step outside so that way we can Let's get Let's step outside so we can get away from the glass, okay? Every room is the same. >> I'm going to take a look. Just Just You're You're good. You got You got sandals on. Okay. And she came in and took my clothes. Like this is what they live for. I told him to go be happy. You know, supposedly he's got a new house. I said then why do you come back to do this? Cuz he lives for this. He He won't let go. Is this your room? Yeah. Here, I'll give you a light. Yeah, and I did try I did try to prevent him. How did you do that? I just ran over there and said no because that's when he put his hands on me first. Where was Right here. So he made it inside while you were still trying to stop him. Oh, yeah. And my son pretty pretty well takes care of that. I tried not to get him in between them, but I can't help it. You want to put your shoes on right here? That way you don't get your I'm just worried about your feet. I don't want you to get any more Okay. Let's go outside. go take some deep breaths. Oh, she's going to jail for me. Good. That is trash. Keep it down. I I know you're I know you're vocal. Do you have a trash Can I use this trash can? Hey, do you need to get checked by medical? No? Yeah, I mean, she was taken out on the ground. It was back and forth. Yeah, she was going down. She leaned back and I don't know. See what she says, but it felt pretty intentional. So what what caused that? So she was she's extremely signal, too. She comes out of that car screaming at whoever is going to listen, right next to the guy we the Christopher we have detained. And I'm like, "You can go back over there." She's like, "No, I'm going to stand right here." I'm like, "Okay." So I go to detain her cuz she's acting very erratic, very drunk. And then that's when she tenses up and goes to the ground. There was a fight from there. Eventually, she is on her knees the whole time, turns over, leans back, kicks me. Then I think you stepped in. >> Is she going to need a special wrap? Once she was detained, she she She's very up and down. Okay. Is she just talk right now? Yeah. Yeah. The charges you have on her is battery on And resisting with A long-standing and complicated family dynamic comes to light. The mother endured the [music] greatest emotional toll, having to face her husband's infidelity and his decision to bring another person into the household. [music] Even more distressing, this individual repeatedly created pressure and tension, behaving as though they held authority within the family. Please tell me. What? It's my right to know why I'm being Why did you take the handcuffs off? They're going to go back on, but now they're going to go No, they're going to go on in the back. So exit the vehicle. So what did I do to get arrested? Put them behind No, my wrist is broken and every Behind BEHIND YOUR BACK. WHY? I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, SO WHAT DID I do to get arrested? Please tell me. Please tell me. Which wrist is broken? My left. This one? Yes. My handcuffs are on the floorboard over there. Resisting with assault and battery on law enforcement. No. Yep. No, because Listen to him. Okay. Okay, she's doing this situation that's really Yeah, we're doing both now. Okay, so I'm a nurse and I have to be at work at 6:45 in the morning. Nope, not anymore. Melman Terrace. Melman Terrace? Yep, I work 9 days in a in a row. I just got off probation. Please. So look, we're going to put this on We're going to put these down. Put your feet down. You have no reason to arrest me. >> feet down. Put your That works. I'm sorry, but so we we just did Not yet. Is R T R? Did you have to use any force or what? They from the get go. So Christopher and him were detained right here. She's very signal two and she was when we came here the first time. For the girlfriend? She's the girlfriend to the suspect, Christopher. Okay. Okay. He's not related to them. It's a separate girlfriend from It's just the male's girlfriend. So he's in the back of one of our cars down there. They were both handcuffed while we're trying to figure out what's going on. They're both being uncooperative. She gets out the car, starts hollering, makes quick movements towards Christopher, towards me, acting very erratic. She keeps going up and down verbally. >> her her boyfriend? >> Yeah, Christopher. The one who just got out of jail. >> Right, but they came here together. Yes. >> And the ex-wife lives here. Yes, the ex still current wife. >> Well, soon to be ex. >> Yeah, hopefully. Hopefully. Pretty much how she's been acting the whole time. She's staying next to him, like you need to go back to your car. I'm trying to conduct investigation. She's like, "No, I'm going to stand right here." Okay, then you're going to be detained. Go to put her in handcuffs, she tenses up. Go to take her to the ground because she keeps going on fighting. Brandon now has to take control of the two guys. Cuz they're trying to step in. And the got two guys are her boyfriend and the son. The son of the boyfriend. He's not related to her at all. Right, the boyfriend and her boyfriend's son. Yes, so he's over there screaming. Christopher is screaming. I'm like, "Calm down, calm down." >> Tell her to calm down. >> He's drunk, but he's got more of a head. She rolls, gets on her knees, she just won't roll over, she won't go on her stomach. She eventually leans back, hit me in the head. Whether it was intentional or unintentional. Got you. Brandon then puts them up against the Corolla here. Then Christopher is kind of like pinning him up against it, but not really. He's not trying to get involved. I couldn't see what happened with that. But they're still over there. Brandon comes, helps me secure, and then Nick just came and scooped her up, put her in the car. Just you and her. Nobody else used any force on her. I don't think Brandon had to. I think he just helped helped me secure. Okay. >> Yeah. And she was bracing and tensing and pulling away from you. Correct. And being very verbally aggressive. >> No way. Really had to note it in case you uh Just like I didn't tell. That's at least what we got for this. We're still trying to figure out what happened in the home. It's completely destroyed. >> So what happened? I mean, I know we've been out of We've dealt with this four times today. This is number five in the past hour and a half. Something like that. So he came >> This call came in that somebody was chasing somebody. Yes, we're still trying to figure that out. >> know who was chasing who. Based off what the kid is saying, it was the father the father chasing him. The father chasing him. Yes. I think Michelle was trying to ascertain that earlier. We're We're trying to figure it out. Not chasing a female. >> No, at least not that we know of right now. That could change. All right. Mhm. Wife or something dispatch or what? >> know if it was I don't know if it was her. Could be. But he came back and Christopher came back and destroyed the windows to his car, I believe. I believe it's his or his dad's. I got to run the tag and see, but it sounds like that car. And who's this girl that's outside? This is This is the wife. So he's all covered in like scratches and blood. Not bad. Inside the house, coffee tables flipped. Do you want to try to get her to the hospital? Somebody's going to need to go with you because I think that me trying to interview her here is not going to fare well. Maybe she'll calm down when she gets to the hospital and then I can interview her there. This is I'm not She's going to end up wrapped or tarped here if she keeps this up. He's still at the station. I just signed his 923 in his car story. So you may be able to meet you there. I'm more concerned with somebody following you there. If she acts on the way up on the way there, you're going to have to stop. >> whenever Michelle's done talking to him, I'm going The whole inside, there's glass everywhere. It's destroyed, but he It's so I was trying to establish that earlier. Is he owner or is he the boyfriend? We need to confirm, but it sounds He's saying he's on the deed and she admitted to it, too. I'll get her. Unless Brandon's free. He's got him in the back of the Oh, yeah. Well, I mean, I can go. One rare moment of hope in this difficult situation is the son. Despite his young age, >> [music] >> he stepped forward to help protect his family and bring attention to what was happening. His actions helped clarify [music] the seriousness of his father's conduct. Michelle, can you go just follow him? Hey, hold on one second. Can you tell me what happened to the front door? I know you were in the middle of telling her. Go ahead and tell me. Best you can. He came and kicked the door back and he was Okay. I heard you know, I heard him pull up. So I looked through, I saw he was here. So I was trying to holding the door shut, you know, cuz that's what he would do. He would not He could kick that thing down easy. So I was trying to hold it. >> This This front door? Yeah, held it the best I could. He ended up, you know, kicking it in. And then so as we're inside, so he's inside, so he's breaking [ __ ] making threats. Oh, this is my [ __ ] house. You're only going to be here, bro. Get the [ __ ] out of my house. I got 3 minutes. All that [ __ ] And then he goes through and he's destroying stuff. >> Yeah, this one's up all over the place. >> There you go. I saw the whole I could see where he All of that was him? No, not that The only thing I did was that very front window. This front left window here? All right, let's come back on track. I'm sorry, dude. My mind is a billion miles an hour. >> some deep breaths. You're good. >> I get paid by the hour. So she's at least going to jail, Amber. I don't know if it's All right, are you good, bro? Yeah, I'm good. Cuz I know she saw an officer. Not a good one. Yeah, that's not smart. But go ahead and continue. For the windows a little later. Mhm. So he came in, he's destroying stuff, yada yada. He starts talking about all like he his tools and stuff that So previously when he did leave, when the first incident happened where he had to leave for, you know, to the charges and everything, he left [snorts] us with over $6,000 in debt because he wasn't paying any of the bills for the house. >> Okay. He left us saying, "Ha, have fun being homeless." Cuz he didn't So we looked up We we talked to some officers and we looked up some stuff and we found out that we are legally in the right to sell the his stuff besides work materials. >> Okay. Like if he needs it for work, then we can't sell it. But otherwise, like that truck, anything, you know, we could sell. So we did end up selling a lot of his stuff. And he didn't like that too much. >> How did he find out about it? He went in his garage and saw his pretty much empty. >> Just Just today? Just before we got here? Yeah, this is the most recent incident. He lost it. He went to destroy everything in the house. That hutch that's right inside, I tried to stand in front of and kind of catch it so he couldn't take it down, but it was too heavy. I couldn't He ended up taking that down, flipping some tables, glass exploding everywhere. He hit himself with some glass. Hit himself with it? >> He got hit with glass. I'm not sure exactly how it happened. He got hit He got hit with glass after He He flipped tables, glass went everywhere, and he was Nothing physical between you guys though, right? Okay. No. He threw a few at me, but he he just He didn't hit any of them. Okay. I would just leave just >> tried to. Yes, he tried to. So it gets to the point where my mom is So he destroyed this this He destroyed the car. >> And whose car is this? His. His and my mom's. And so at first, he let the dogs out. I'm sorry, man. I'm all over the >> You're good. You're good. >> the dogs out. >> he wanted the dogs, right? >> want the dogs. He just wanted us He wanted to [ __ ] us. You want to Okay. The dog almost got my car. Okay. Like he did not care. He was like, "Hey, all right. Now that I realized afterwards, he was doing that to get us out of the house." Cuz then we're out here dealing with the dog. We tried to get the dogs back inside and slammed the door and was holding it shut. And that's what happened to that window. >> Okay. >> I was like, "You're not locking us out." So me and my mom I did break the window, but we decided to get break that window to get in. I'm the one that cuz I got the actual You broke it to get in, right? You broke this to get in? Yeah, broke that No, the actual glass window. Okay. The glass window. That He He broke the screen one. Is that Is that cuz you had to reach in? Uh yeah, well, my me and my mom were trying to stand in front of that when he very first got here, pretty much. Like cuz he came in, he came here, went in, went out, and then went back in and then destroyed [ __ ] Where Which room? Living room? >> The main living room. >> came in and out of the front door or >> door. The front door is the only one he used. And he destroyed stuff in my room, my mom's room, the front living room. >> Did your mom meet him in her room? Uh yeah, we were all in there in her room. What happened to that? He was just throwing a bunch He was throwing a [ __ ] ton of [ __ ] Did he put his hands on your mom? I was all I'm I'm sorry. I was really all over the place. >> mean I mean like grabbing and moving. >> There was a lot of There was a lot There was a lot going on. I was glass exploding everywhere. Okay. So at what point did it escalate to coming outside? After the dog, we got them in, we went back inside. I said something about, "You want to destroy that car, I'm going to destroy your truck." You said that? Yeah, I said it. It's not illegal or anything, but I did say it. I'll admit it. I did say it. It would have been if you did, though. I did. And so, you know, I said that, so he came outside. And then that's when my mom decided she wanted to move her Hummer before he could destroy it. Where Where'd she move it? Where'd you move it? Down two blocks. Okay. Where What house by the way? Cuz I went out driving looking for you. Oh, it's fine. So she moved it. You're going to You said you're going to go destroy his truck. And then so after she left, he kind of stopped for half a second cuz I kind of after he lost like he lost focus on me for a second, was on my mom moving the truck. So I kind of He kind of calmed down for a second after she left. I was like, "All right, I'm just going to grab my [ __ ] and leave." He was like, "Yeah, you better [ __ ] get your [ __ ] and leave." >> going to leave on foot or you going to drive? >> On foot. I can't drive. I don't have a license yet. I'm looking for my phone to go and I'm looking for it and I realize it's in his hand. This was when he was still trying to bust out that window right there. He actually didn't get to finish busting out because I took This one? Yeah, cuz I took the phone from him. Cuz then he had my phone and I guess he I didn't see at the time he had his phone in his hand, too. >> What was he using to bust the windows? >> I had a hammer. Hammer or tire iron? It looked like a hammer. I know I used a another tire iron, but like a little like You know like the little things for digging in the dirt? Like the little like They look like three claws. I used that for the window. Okay. I don't think this is what he was using. I'm pretty sure he had a hammer. When we were out here and I saw he had his phone and my phone, I didn't realize his phone was there, too, at the time. I snatched my phone out of his hands and just ran. I made it to about you know, I made it to about across the church, across the street from that house right there. And I'm out of breath, about to throw up. Like you know when you run so much, you're really about to throw up? Yeah, I was literally [ __ ] about to throw up and he caught up to me and that's when I that little fight I had, I pulled it and I was like I was just hunched over, one hand just reaching out. Backing up. Bro, stay away from me. Dude, was he walking towards you? Yes. Yes, he was walking towards me. He He He kept telling me, "Drop all your [ __ ] bro. Drop everything. You drop it all, bro. Give me all your shit." Like I like he was robbing. So after that, Crystal decides Crystal pulled up cuz she saw me cuz I got I was running down that road yelling, "Help!" I don't know what's wrong with people nowadays. I literally ran past like five [ __ ] cars. >> Few people called. >> Okay, a few people called. Okay, cuz like obviously I like banging on windows like yo bro. Yeah, there's a few people that called. That's why we came. Were you wearing the hoodie? Yeah, I was this is exactly what I was wearing. So I made it there and she pulled up told me to get in and told him to back off and stop. So I got in there got in her the Jeep and we were driving around looking for my mom and the Hummer and then I ended up seeing her seeing her walking back up over here. No. And so then we came back here and then now we're now we're You swear everything you told me is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? You're saying lying's a crime? And that a police officer is a crime? Okay. Go ahead and talk to your mom. Go ahead and talk to your mom real quick. After carefully recording the child's full account, the father was required to confront the serious legal outcomes of his actions. Do you need to go to the hospital for your kids at all? Okay, so Okay. Um thank you for your service. Um so based off everything that happened, I just want to grab her watch, please. You want to take your watch with her? Take her watch. Do you want to go with you? I just want to throw it in the car. I'll go throw it in the car. No, you I'm going to go do it for you. You can watch me do it. The father may face charges including aggravated criminal mischief, child and interfering with law enforcement. Under Florida law, he could be subject to a maximum [music] sentence of up to 16 years in prison. Family conflict doesn't just fracture a household. It leaves [music] deep lasting effects on children. When emotional instability combines with >> [music] >> harmful patterns of behavior, the impact can reach far beyond what anyone anticipates. It's okay. You're okay. All right, let's go over here. Can you believe it? This father's composed demeanor is partly shaped by the nature of his profession. So what truly led to the situation? On February 15th, 2024, officers identified an off-duty public safety officer driving with his two young children while not in a suitable condition to do so, which resulted in a serious traffic incident. The case sparked widespread discussion about fairness and the principle that rules must apply equally to everyone. Bobby, let's step out of the vehicle, all right? Come on, Bobby. You got your kids in the back, dude. What's going on, man? Hey, Silas, uh come over here. Can you open the door? Yeah, let's open the door. All right, Bobby. Hey, Bobby, yeah, let's step out. What's that? You don't have your gun on you? Step out. Step out. Step out this way. Yeah, just keep your hands up. Your door is not going to open any further. Yeah, just kind of squeeze on out. It's okay. You're okay. All right, let's go over here. Let's Bobby, let's go over here. Let's go over here. Let's walk over here, okay? Hey, don't keep don't Hey, go walk over there. Let's come over here. You got nothing on you, Bobby? No. Okay. Let's walk over here. Let's walk over here. Bobby, let's go over here. Okay. Let's go over here. Let's go over here. What's going on over here? So you know what we got to do, right? You just had it at home or what? Where are you coming from? No? Do you want to do a field sobriety test? No? Okay, let's go ahead and put your hands behind your back, Bobby. All right, stand right here. I'm going to double lock these for you, okay? So don't get any tighter. You feel okay? All right, let's come over here to the front of the to my unit, okay? I'm hanging on to you so that way you don't fall over, right? Just stand right here, okay? I'm just going to check you I'm going to check you for any Do you have your wallet on you? No? Where's your wallet at? Okay, come take a seat back here or have a seat back here, okay? All right, I'm sorry. Yep, this this way. You able to get up there? I'm going to read you the New Mexico Implied Consent Act, okay? You know the process, man. You are under arrest for DWI. The New Mexico Implied Consent Act requires you to submit to a breath test. Okay, let me just read it off, okay? The New Mexico Implied Consent Act requires you to submit to a breath test to determine the alcohol content of your blood. After you take the test, you have the right to choose an additional independent test. If you choose to take an additional independent test, you have the right to choose a reasonable opportunity to to arrange for a physician, a licensed nurse, laboratory technician or technologist who is employed by a hospital, a physician of your own choice to perform an additional chemical test. The cost of this additional test will be paid by the law enforcement agency. Do you agree to take our test? Okay, can I just make sure you don't got nothing in your mouth? Can't have any dissolvables. What's that? Yes, of course. Can you open up your mouth for me? Let me look at it. Look this way. Lift up your tongue. Okay. The vehicle suffered extensive damage leading officers to survey the surrounding area and collect additional details connected to the incident. There's front end and then there's side damage. Well, let's look at the way it's Yeah, you're right. What's to do with the kids? Where are the kids? They're with the EMS right now getting evaluated. So they're saying if they look at them, they're going to have to take them. Is that >> Yes, because they were involved in an accident. Unless the parent is notified and is able to just take them themselves. They don't have a phone number for her. They're going to try to go by his house. We ran her information, too, but she not come up in previous calls. Hey, Bobby. Hey, Stephanie's coming by to pick up the kiddos, okay? All right. When I was coming here, there was somebody in the center median walking. I don't know why. >> It was a guy Yeah. Yeah. Um I didn't know if he was crossing the street or what. So I mean I wanted to get here so I didn't stop. >> There's a vehicle also on the side of the road that may have been his. He might have been walking back. Okay. Well, actually I may drive my truck so I don't get run over and get killed. But I'm going to kind of sit by the seat where he I'm not sure. I have no idea. From what dispatch told us is that he had crossed over all four lanes and then they really went into a field. There's not a single damn field here down there. Could have been a field right here just for a >> Well, then he probably backed up and pulled in. There's bumper and [ __ ] right there. So he went straight through. Let's walk over here as well. Hey, you found it. Well, he just kept going, I'm sure. Yeah, I doubt Oh, okay, right there. Yeah, I think he's going to go full speed through here. Or POS. Wow. That's what I'm saying. Whatever that or if that's an intersection Look at that rocket ship, too. You see that? Boom. >> Dug that right up out of the ground. I can't really tell where it left the road. I'm just going to whenever I do my crash when I do my 44 report, I'm going to use this intersection right here as where it went off. 3157. And then how did he miss that? Yeah, no kidding, huh? He could have wrapped all the way up that thing, too. He was He was on a grounding. Park and stick up on those cables. Oh, yeah. Yeah, cuz he looks like he He was already coming back up onto the road here. The mother arrived visibly distressed. She was shocked to learn that her husband, someone entrusted with public responsibility, had disregarded basic road safety practices and she was deeply concerned about her children's well-being. Hello. Are you Stephanie? I'm sorry. We're just walking to see he just went where where the car went. We can walk over here and talk to your kiddos, okay? It just seems like he got drunk and wrecked his vehicle. He went into somebody else? No, into the ditch. Well, it's right here. It's over here. He it got out. So So he was going this way and he ended up over here? Yes, ma'am. Are you serious? So let's go talk to kiddos. What in the hell? He is an officer. Yes, ma'am. Is he going through something right now that would cause him to drink? No. Well, we have problems, but it's not And they already took him. Yes, ma'am. And so Hey, I'm so sorry. I'M SO SORRY. DADDY DIDN'T MEAN TO DO IT. I DON'T KNOW why he did it to the baby. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I put you through this. >> [laughter] >> I just can't believe You're okay. So now that you're here, would it be okay if EMS give, you know, looked at them? Yes, please. Oh, they haven't? The thing is is they can't do it without a parent present or else they actually they have to take them to the hospital. They got in a car accident. Something could happen to them. Do you have car seats in your vehicle? I don't have car seats, but can I take them out? >> Yeah, you can take them out. So you want us to take them or do you want to take them? To the hospital? If you want or do you feel comfortable just going home? As of right now, I'm just going to wait for their grandparents to get here and then if anything I can Let's go grab the car seats. >> Car seats for the kiddos. Are you guys going to tell me where this is going to go? Yeah, I can tell you. If you want to hang out until the tow truck gets here, I can tell you. Or else I can just call you. There's also a a bag over here for her. Do you want to take that as well? Hey Bobby. You got to walk in there, okay? Come here, brother. You need help out? Can you sit up? Okay, you got to walk in there, okay? You got to speak up, Bobby. What's up with this? I can't take those off until we're This way, Bobby. Right here in this chair, okay? The father was charged with DWI, petty misdemeanor, leaving the scene of an accident, misdemeanor, two counts of DWI with a minor in the vehicle, petty misdemeanor, [music] both failure to maintain traffic lane, petty misdemeanor. Ultimately, under a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to DWI and one count of DWI with a minor in the vehicle, while the remaining charges were dismissed. No matter who a person is or what role they hold, accountability remains essential. Personal responsibility cannot be set aside, and fairness in the system only exists when the same standards apply to everyone. She's mad. She's mad at her. Mad at her. She goes on Snapchat and talks to people she don't know. Over a minor disagreement, a child became the focus of her mother's built-up frustration, drawing the grandmother into a painful cycle of family tension. On January 26th, 2023, officers were called after receiving a report of a dispute between a mother and her daughter. The situation began when the mother discovered her child communicating with an unfamiliar person online. Amid heightened emotions, the matter escalated and drew the grandmother into the situation as well. By the time officers arrived, it was clear the conflict had progressed far beyond a routine family disagreement. And what is this? Hey, how's it going? This is the sheriff's office. Yeah. What's going on? We're getting calls from everywhere. Why? Did you all their own stuff. Somebody's saying that they saw somebody You got to find where your mom went tonight? No. What happened to your pants? I don't know. Me and my kid, come on. Let's go inside. Your mom going to live with you? No, not at all. How's it going? Were you guys present during this incident? No, no. Were you all here when it happened? Uh-uh, no. Uh-uh. I just pulled it I was coming out and she just ran out to my truck. Shut up. She just ran out to my truck when I was coming out. >> Is she Is she messed up? No, they said they said It's a daughter. It says How old is the daughter? Who's that? Oh, the old lady right there must be. The old lady y'all got to go Yeah, y'all need to talk to that lady. Officers gathered statements from all parties, including the grandmother and witnesses. The information revealed a long history of unresolved family strain and ongoing challenges that existed well before this incident. Are you the other half of this party that I don't know what they're talking about. My granddaughter ran away. And what she says I found her on Maricella. I brought her back. >> granddaughter? Huh? Is that your daughter? Granddaughter. So the granddaughter's down here. She's your old granddaughter. Is she down there? Yes, they just came and said she's down there. We got a call Somebody called 911 Uh-huh. and said that the mom was the daughter was mom or whatever, vice versa, whatever. So we tried We made contact with her and you see what we got from her. Yeah. Obviously, something happened Her pants were all dirty. She's mad. She's mad at her. Mad at her. She goes on Snapchat and talks with to people she don't know. She's going off on her after that. She's holding her kid out. She went down the street. She said, "I'm calling the police." She told me what happened. I don't have her. I was asleep. I said, "I'm going to look for her." I saw her walking in Maricella. I said, "You're going back. I'm already in for it." for hiding her. So, I brought her back. She was in the kitchen cleaning when I were arguing. That's all that happened. How many did you see? The granddaughter down there. She said she was here. If we bring the granddaughter back Are anywhere Are you in an argument? No. So where can she go where both parties agree to this situation? Look inside. No, we we know that. They They said that neither one of y'all did that stuff. We got multiple calls from different places all around here. She was fine. She She is She's arguing. Her mom is talking. She's talking. Yeah. Where's the Where's the mom at? Where's the father? I don't have her. Cuz I don't want to put the juvenile in a position where things turn bad and tell me How's it going, guys? My name's Mark. I work with Spider PD as well. Okay. This is my neighbor, Rick Frey. What's up, man? This young lady is in my house with my wife. Okay. And I got plenty of evidence. She's very irate. You guys look at your CAD system, your filming system. There's going to be an off the record on that house. Yeah, we got to talk. right now. You're welcome to come in and talk to us. I mean, so you know just as well as I do that she does have to go to a guardian. I didn't know she was with the guardian. No, no. So, that's Oh my god, you need to talk to her. It's not my business. I'm just providing safe refuge. We spoke with her. It's just like I even asked the grandma cuz the grandma came over there. She's fighting a court case for when the mom first starts talking about the grandma hiding her at her house trying to get her away from the mom. And we were trying to find out where the dad is. Nobody can get a hold of the dad. Oh, Woody? He was here earlier today. So, so you know the dad? I know Woody. Is he a good guy? Sort of? You turn that camera off while I tell my opinions. Yeah, she's been streaming all that since we got here. >> Yeah. Her voice is not lowered. That's okay. That's their business. That's her opinion there, but no, I've had it. We're just trying to find a a decent guardian for her to go to for tonight. Those affected in this situation were not only the child, but also the grandmother, who was caught in the middle of the conflict. Officer, I want to talk to you. So, what's going on tonight, ma'am? Then she started taking out on me. She told me to leave her house, so I did. I was walking to my grandma's house, and then my mom, I guess, called my grandma, and my grandma brought me back to the house. My grandma was trying to leave or She first she was trying to stick up for me cuz my mom was talking about all of it. I was trying to leave and my mom and my grandma and my grandma said, "Well, you told her to leave her house and never come back." And then that's when my mom hit her mom two times and then pulled her down on the ground by her hair. And she hit her head on the sofa, and that's when I just ran out the back door. So the mom hit the grandma? Yes. What happened to your nose? Just She didn't hit it. I guess just Oh, it just happens with the weather? I guess I don't know. Maybe so. Do you know by any chance how much your mother drank tonight? Is this like an ongoing issue with her? Huh? She She just like drinks excessively? No, she drinks like she drinks like she gets mad or upset, and that's kind of It's so she don't think a lot. She got arrested for that car she pulled up in the front room? Yeah. She was drinking that night at Bruce's, right? >> Yeah. How many brothers and sisters do you have over there? I have two brothers and three sisters. Y'all live over there together? Yeah. Does any other adult live with y'all? No. You're the oldest of the siblings? Well, in that home, yeah. Is there any other siblings like around that you know of? Yeah, two. They don't come around. They uh I just know them. Is there any way that you can possibly like go over to their place tonight? >> Well, it's just my older sister. She's the oldest out of all of us. She lives with my grandma, and then my brother, he lives with his dad in Waco by my brother. Has CPS ever been out to your house? Yeah, they're not right right now. Okay. How many times have they been out to your house? I think this is like only the second time. Only the second time? So Child Protective Services they come by and check on y'all? Is that like a court-ordered thing, do you know, or Oh, no. But no, she was from Child Protective Services and she was coming to check on us on Monday. Well, unfortunately, you're going to have to go back because you're a minor. I'm sure you probably don't want to be in that predicament. I can tell by your face expressions you don't. Is there any way that you can contact one of your siblings? I know where her house is. My sister lives with my grandma, so I know where they live. The The grandma that that was at your house tonight? Another grandma. No, the one that said at the house right there. Do you know like what's going on with your mom and your grandma right now? With like the court stuff? At the same time, the relationship between the mother and her partner was under significant pressure due to disagreements over caregiving responsibilities. Daily stress and unhealthy patterns caused even small issues to spiral out of control. Get out. What's the problem, ma'am? He was following me. Get out. You were wrong. Listen. YOU WERE WRONG. YOU'RE WITHIN ABOUT 2 seconds of going to jail. Get out. Get out. Get out. Get out. Talk for a second, Ashley. I'm going to tell them all that you're Get out. I knew it, sir. Who don't do nothing for your kids. You better call my mama. >> of the car. >> I'm looking for my other shoe. >> You ain't got to worry about that shoe. Come on. I do need that shoe. What is the problem? Stop. Stop. What is the problem? What's the problem? That's my problem. Who's your problem? He Let me tell you Stop. Shut up for a minute and be quiet. Listen to me. You're going to be under arrest. Sit down in the car and calm down. Get up. Come on. I'm listening. I'm listening. See what they did? GIVE IT A GOOD SPANKING. STOP. CALL ME THE NO, YOU DIDN'T. SEE WHAT YOU DID? >> [screaming] >> DO YOU WANT TO GO TO JAIL? WHAT'S HAPPENING TO YOU? THEN BE QUIET. He sells Listen. He does all multiple wrong. We're not here about that. He's evading being served for child support. I just witnessed what you did, so don't stand there and say you didn't do that. I didn't do anything. You call it nothing what you just did a minute ago through the window? I didn't do anything to him. You're saying that you DIDN'T DO ANYTHING? NO. YOU'RE A LIAR. NO, I'M NOT. I WATCHED YOU. You didn't watch anything. Do you know what he does to me inside this house? We're here today because of the kids. He doesn't He doesn't care. Obviously, you don't. >> No, he doesn't care. >> have you had to drink tonight? How much have you had to drink? Nothing. Nothing? >> Leave me alone. I'm in the privacy of my own home. You're out in the public street. I was in the privacy of my own home until he came disturbing it. Now he's trying to send me to jail. So everything is Ain't nobody They raised my Sit down in the park, ma'am. He can't even support my kids properly. I have six kids and he does nothing for them. >> Turn around. Put your hands behind your back now. Put your hands behind your back. This is drinking. She's home. I got the Woodrow. WE COULD CALL HER MOM. Her mom retired police department. Cuz I'm a I don't even have the money to get out. This is not So, she didn't attack me. She did not put her hands on me. She called me. She just trying to get She's trying to pull off. She jumped onto the steering wheel and then went through the door. But she didn't She touched She didn't But you were driving to get away from it all. I get it. And you came back over here to grab the kids. >> Grab the kids because she called and said something about what I do with the police. I'm walking with the kids. The police are walking. I never said She's just stressed out behind the kids. We're separate in a real car. Officer That is the big thing, right? Did you see from how she wrecked the car a week ago? Hadn't got to chill out. Just have a drinking problem. Why is she being charged? She She didn't grab the wheel. And children was out there. The children had saw that. She wants to act a big part. When efforts to calm the situation were unsuccessful, officers had to step in with temporary measures to ensure everyone's safety. You have any I don't. >> knives, anything that's going to Oh, man. Listen. We tried to handle the situation an hour ago. But I haven't done anything. And even If you would have talked to us when we first came up, you know this would have gone a lot better. But even he told you I didn't do anything. The only person who's going to be telling my Come on, man. He can't even He can't even take care of my kids right. Please, I didn't even do anything. You jumped in the vehicle and grabbed the wheel with your children IN THE BACK SEAT. BUT IT'S NOT BATTERY. HE CAN TELL you I didn't do anything. Yes, and when it goes to court, he can tell the judge that you didn't do anything. >> But I didn't do anything and that's not fair that he has to pay all that money to buy me out. We have all these kids, bro. We have six kids. >> Yes, I know and I'm sorry. But you shouldn't have been acting up. >> But I haven't done anything. >> You jumped in the vehicle and grabbed the WHEEL. NO, I DIDN'T. >> LISTEN, GET YOUR FEET IN. WOODROW. WOODROW. OKAY. WOODROW, my baby. Woodrow. I didn't even do anything. Woodrow, why? What about these kids? Get your leg in. I don't want to close it ON YOU. WOODROW. GET YOUR LEG IN. NO. WOODROW. ASHLEY, we're going to try to calm her down and get her Let me Ashley, I promise I didn't do anything. All right. Well, I'm just going to stop talking to you. She's a She's No, but I didn't do nothing. Okay, grandma. Woodrow, what is The domestic battery, right? Is it domestic? The husband. It's not her husband, but Well, either way, it's like it could be a It could have been a higher charge. I don't know if they're going to back on the charge when they get it to the court, especially with all the children here. Are you okay with taking the 14-year-old? No. Where is she going to go? Just stay here. There's nobody here. She can take her by herself. She cannot take her. She's 14. Yes, she can. I'm a retired police officer. Uh Y'all arguing. Arguing. Fair enough. Yes, you are. He came over here to get the kids. I came to get the kids. I don't know. I've been to jobs all day. I'm up to date on this [ __ ] Look at the dates and times. I bet you if I get the phone, it'll show something different. You're going to act like you ain't talked to him and got her pissed off on the Listen, right now you're instigating a situation. And it's really starting to piss me off. I care. Cuz I don't want to have to take you to jail for disturbing the peace. All right? Listen, you at least got to go talk to the 14-year-old and tell her that you don't want to take her. >> Where is She's over at the elder slot of units out there. I don't know anybody back there. So, I don't know. This officer here wants to explain to you the details. So But she is welcome here. Yeah. So, as long as you know that you're welcome here, it's better than a lot of juveniles that we have just run away and they don't know where they're going. So, it's like if you have a safe place over here and you can't get away anywhere else, you come here. And then you know what to do, you'll give us a call. Okay? Yeah, but if if you're ready, uh grandma's waiting for you over at the house. You can go with her, okay? So, your mom was arrested. When we got over there, we found her in a situation with uh Woodrow. Wait, so he was there? He was there getting the other children, the the smaller ones. He wasn't doing anything to her. We also advised him that whenever she does get out of jail, she needs to seek help for alcohol. Speaking to him and grandma, she's not like this normally. And then also on the way to lockup, she decided that it's a good idea to kick out one of our units' windows. That's a whole situation now, too. Let's go ahead and get you going. >> You're welcome here, KK. You're welcome here anytime. You're in a safe place. >> Victoria, this is Mark. Okay. I'm just making sure that the the handoff's okay. Everybody's good to go. The mother was charged with domestic violence, injuring minors, resisting law enforcement officers, disorderly conduct due to intoxication, and resisting during restraint or detention. Under Florida law, she could face a combined maximum sentence of up to 8 years and 2 months in prison, along [music] with fines totaling $8,500. US law, particularly in Florida, places strong emphasis on protecting children. Even a single lapse in judgment can bring serious outcomes, reinforcing that a child's safety must never depend on an adult's emotional state. When life's pressures are managed through unhealthy coping habits, you expect that a mother could suddenly be facing serious legal responsibility behind the wheel, right in front of her child. On March 16th, 2024, during a routine patrol, officers came across a vehicle stopped along the roadside. The driver was found asleep in the driver's [music] seat with a child sitting beside her. To prevent any potential officers promptly approached and secured the vehicle. 2280 is a suspicious vehicle. I have the keys. I have the keys. I took the keys out. Okay. Okay. Okay. I don't want to I already took the keys out. So, there was There was a kid in the passenger seat. Madison. Madison. Hey. Hey. What? Are you Madison? Yeah. Can you look at me? No. Here's the bracelet I have in my hand. What? The bracelet like the light. What? The light the light the light the light. >> The light? Okay. I got you. Okay, so I pointed it away. Hi. Hi. Good morning. Good morning. How are you? I'm good. Okay. Do you know where you're at? Um Without looking at the street sign? Close to home. Okay. Where were you going this late at night? I was going home. I just stopped cuz I needed to take a breather. >> Yeah, for sure. I was upset and like Where'd you come from? Or did you just leave the house to go take a drive? I dropped somebody off. You dropped somebody off? Yeah, I did. I just stopped. Okay. Do you have any idea on you? Do you have any You don't have anything in the car? Anything like that? Okay. Thank you. I'm not like I wasn't driving. You weren't what? >> how this looks. Oh my god. >> That's okay. Well, I already saw it. You don't have to hide it. I'm not hiding. I just like Oh my god. Like it looks so dumb. Yeah. That's not what I was doing. What were you doing? I was really just trying to go home, but my car was messing up, so I shut it off. And the car was messing up? Yeah. You shut it off? >> Yeah, I shut it off and then I was just sitting there. No, I took the keys out. Oh, you did you? Yeah. I said I got to stop. I didn't want you to get spooked and drive away. I got to go. I didn't want to take any chances, especially with the kid in the car. Did you see him fall asleep? What's that? >> Did he fall asleep? Oh, yeah. You were out. Yeah, you were out. You were sleeping real good. >> deep into dreamland. Do you know where you're at? >> Yeah, literally I was leaving. Leaving here? >> my job with my little Charlie. Charlie? >> I was going to go pick him up in like an hour and a half, but my car is messed up, so I stopped here. I saw you wanted to pull down that way and that's probably when I fell asleep. Yeah. That's actually what happened. >> Well, you put the car in park, so that's good. Yeah, that's what happened to you. Yeah, at least that you did that. Yeah, what were we doing with the bottle? That was just what what was This is You just carry that around with you? I was carrying that. You can figure out is that you have a whole questioning thing with him? I mean, it doesn't matter now. What's that? And I'm going to get arrested cuz I just did that and get out. Yeah, but there's a process, so we can't just like we don't just we can't just like fast lane it. Yeah, we got to do that. Anyone that can watch him or Your mom. So, I pulled up to the lights and I see this car sitting here. This I'm like just kind of waiting I'm like is it going to pull out? What's it going to do? And I'm like, well, it's been a little time. Now I have to go now I have to go investigate. Now I got to go take a look. >> Yeah, now I got to go take a look. Well, so then I come back around here and I get in front of her just in case. The car was on, it was in park. I didn't want her to get spooked and take off especially with a kid, so I reached in. Keys out, they're both knocked out. Had to shake her to get her to wake up. Drool and everything, so once she noticed the fire wall she tried to put it out. I said I already saw it. >> [laughter] >> Yeah, she got her driver's license? >> Yes, I wanted to. Although the mother acknowledged that she was under influence, officers still conducted [music] the standard assessments to evaluate her situation. Yeah, I might need you to come pick Yeah, I just got pulled over. Pick her up for her. I was stopped and I don't know what's going to happen, Tony, but I don't know what's happening right now. They they Yeah, we'll we'll figure it we'll figure it out. How much did you have to drink tonight, Madison? A couple beers. A couple beers? And a couple shots of it. I want you to do me a favor and step out for me, okay? All right. All right, they're doing their thing right now, so >> I got to go. All right, bye. Love you. I don't want to step out cuz I'll sleep cuz I'm tired. >> Okay, you walk right up here for me, okay? So, you had a couple beers and some Fireball. Where where were you drinking that at? I was at a friend's house. I took her to a friend's house. All right, come right up here. So, a couple beers, how many how many is a couple? >> About two. Two? Okay. Well, different people have different numbers, so all right, step right over here for me. Turn and face me. I'm going to ask you to perform a few standardized field sobriety exercises. You willing to do that for me? Yeah. Okay. First thing I need you to see the uh red light here. I'm going to move from side to side a few times. I want you to follow with your eyes only keeping your head straight. >> My eyes are very dry, so Okay, I understand. And I think I'm all right. Daniel. All right, do you have any problems with your knees, ankles, or back that would affect your balance at all? Okay, what I'm going to have you do is I want you to turn and face that way. I want you to put your left foot on the white line. I want you to put your right foot in front of it just like this. Keep your hands down by your sides, okay? I don't want you to I want you to stand just like that until I ask you to move. You understand? >> You got to take your slides off, that's fine. Go ahead. Go ahead and begin for me. One two nine. Turn around, do it again. Yep. seven eight nine Okay, come back over here. Keep your hands down by your sides. Okay, this exercise is called the one leg stand, okay? My balance is really bad. I'm going to fail this. This dude, I can't even do that when I'm like What I'm going to have you do is put your feet together for me. Keep your hands down by your sides. You can pick the foot of your choice, whichever one makes you more comfortable. You can raise it approximately 6 in off the ground like this, okay? I'm going to try my best. And begin. >> 1,001, 1,002, 1,003, 1,006, 1,007, 1,008, 1,009, 10, 11. Uh do I keep going? Yep. That's it. Okay, stop. Will you turn around and face my car for me? This time I'm placing you under arrest for DUI. You can put your slides on in just a minute. It's all right. I got to call Tony though. I got to let him know if I'm picking him up. Can I do that? Yep, give us just a second. All right, we'll put you in the car. >> Anyway, if I'm my brother's wife or daughter, then what then? We'll we'll we'll talk about that when we get there. >> a wonderful brother right now. I need my phone so I can call him. We're going to take care of that. Give us just a minute. Do you have anything on you? Nothing illegal? Nope. Okay, if you intro can you all right, you're walking too far. Can you face the car? All right. I don't know if we mentioned it, but if you take anything into jail, it's an additional felony charge. >> have anything on me. I know but I have to tell you that, right? So, just in case. I just woke up and so that's probably why I just fell out of that. I'll tell you that. Oh, okay. Well, we're beyond that now, so we're we're on to the next we're on to the next step. >> right, right, right, right, right, that's why I said I wanted the breathalyzer. PMA or whatever it Yeah. Ma'am. There's no reason to act like that, okay? Let's try to control ourselves. Let's try to control ourselves. Yeah, that's the last time I'm talking to Whenever you're finished and whenever you want to act like an adult woman, we can continue, okay? >> I mean, once we get to the jail and we find out that I'm actually not don't see you guys arresting for a reason, then yeah. I don't have to talk to Are you done No, you literally just almost pulled my tampon out while you were checking. I don't know what that is. Well, why don't you ask? Relax. All right. Relax. There's no reason for you to be checking me extra hard like this. Really? Madison, lift your left foot back to me. Like I have something on my in my toes. Oh, dirt now. Dirt now cuz you just had me take my shoes off. Put your shoes back on. I'm arresting you for DUI. Help her make the phone call. Please. And hang up your phone. I'm a cool person. Just let me call All right, so let's have a seat, okay? Let's get in the back of the car. And when you guys find out that my alcohol level is actually above the limit, do I get released? Yeah, we'll see about that. All right, so have a seat. Have a seat for >> assume it's like No, definitely not. Nope. Madison, here's where this works. I'm telling you to get in. If you don't, I will make you get in. Will you let go of my arm? No, I don't let go of your arm. >> Yes, you do. You're holding on too tight. I am cooperative, but you really are getting really too aggressive. I'm about to get into the car. >> And I'm going to hold you. Will you let go of my arm? >> you get in or I put you in. Getting into the car. Let go. >> I'm not letting go. You don't have to hold on so tight. I'm not resisting. I'm getting in the car. I'm asking you to politely >> you're not getting in the car. So, let go of me and so tight, so tight, so tight. I'm asking politely. I'm asking politely. I'm not letting go. Literally, I'm not saying you have to let go. You guys don't do breathalyzers on the road to just to protest? Okay. All right. I appreciate it. He said he had a few like a few hours ago. He just didn't want to chance it driving. So, you're going to take the kid and what's over I want to see the breathalyzer though. What's my what's my blood alcohol level? You're going to notify DCF? Absolutely. Okay, that's it. Okay. >> [laughter] >> Do what? Tony's like, I'm not telling you to, just check it. No, don't yeah, don't take that. Concerns became clearer when a family member arrived [music] and shared that the mother had previously faced legal matters related to DUI. Yeah, is she fell off? Yeah. Hey, kid. Hi. All right. What? Do you want to take I got to talk to you, but if you want to go get in the bed or whatever you got to do and then I'll talk to you and we'll see. >> What's going on with is She's off her meds. Okay. Yeah. She obviously went to jail. DUI? DUI. Reckless. Did [snorts] she leave here? Uh yeah, she did. Is this where she came from? Yeah. Cuz she said she was coming from someone's house. I mean, she left here hours ago. >> Okay, so she sounds like she possibly went to someone else's house then. I have no idea when her shift ended. Okay, she's definitely getting charged with DUI. There's a possibility she's going to get charged with child neglect. She's driving around drunk. Luckily, nobody got hurt tonight. DCF is going to get notified. Yeah, we have to. I just like to give people the heads up so that you're not hanging out here one day and all of a sudden knock knock knock, DCF is here and you're like, "Whoa." Thinking it's about you. What's the time what's the I mean, I know it's a I have no idea. I can't tell you when obviously. I don't work for them. I don't know. They're definitely not the type where they may just wait till Monday, okay? Do you have any questions for me? Um it's not a serious question. Any any questions on there? Can I Do you mind if I take the breathalyzer? I just want to see where I was at. I just want to see where I was We don't we don't carry those. [laughter] But I can tell you no offense, good thing you didn't drive. Yeah. Okay, I'm glad you told me that. I'm good. >> Obviously, I I I appreciate all that. The mother was charged with child neglect and DUI. Under Florida law, she could face a sentence ranging from 6 months to 5 years in prison. A single lapse in judgment can place a child and others at risk. Even without full intent, actions that compromise safety can carry [music] unavoidable legal outcomes. Police in Florida were rushing to a scene where a crying girl opened the door and ran straight into the street. At first I thought that something was wrong with her mom, but she went back in the house, so I figured oh, the mom is home. She came back out saying that her mom is not here and she's home by herself and she's scared. Her mom told her to stay in the house, she'd be right back and she was scared, so now On August 25th, 2024, a 6-year-old girl panicked and walked out of the house crying after being left alone. Neighbors saw her going in and out repeatedly, grew suspicious, and quickly called the police. The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office rushed to the scene and discovered I was outside with my mother-in-law. I'm standing over there where the light is at the house. This little girl comes outside and she's looking for her mom. She's crying. I thought that something was wrong with her mom, but she went back in the house, so I figured oh, the mom is home. She came back out saying that her mom is not here and she's home by herself and she's scared. Her mom told her to stay in the house, she'd be right back and she was scared, so now I don't know what to do. I didn't want to just like I don't know who she is. I I know how things are these days with kids and Mhm. So, I I we called just to make sure that everything's okay. Okay. Hello, how are you? Good. Good. Are you home alone? Yeah, that's okay. We're here in What house do you live at? Um Just show me. Just point. Which one? That one? Yeah. You're in which grade? >> to I'm going to first grade and then I'm at Oh, okay. our house. That's your house? Two police cars. Yeah, I know, right? And they're very tall. >> I know. I want you to stay here with her real quick. She wants >> going >> go with them. Okay, yeah. You go you do that. >> this little? Sure. >> My mom has her mom's number. I'm not trying to call her right this second yet. Okay, but you want me to get you the number, right? >> Yeah, I will in just I will in just a minute, okay? >> down there. What if my mom's always taking off? Okay. >> This is so like my heart is racing. I'm so sad. >> How long is mom normally gone? >> She'll sit in her car for hours. My mom's dying. I can't Mom's dying. I can't sit here and She sits in the car for hours. But most of the time the baby's with her. But a lot of times she's not. Okay. A woman named Kirsha, the girl's mother, showed up looking nervous and evasive. Then quickly shifted all the blame onto my sister, Nicole. Hello. You're mom? Yes. Okay, what was your first name? Kirsha. Kirsha, okay. She's home alone? Um no, that's my sister's house. Okay. Where's her Where is mom at then? I'm mom, but that's my sister's house. >> Is Is sister there? She was supposed to be there. Where is she at? Well, did she Was she there when you left? >> Yes. Why are you parked over here? >> Because this is my friend's house. Right here. Do you know the address number? What's your address? Kirsha, can we Can you step out and have a quick conversation with you? We're just trying to figure out what's going on here exactly. Apparently, Nicole had left. Yeah, so the police are down here. Who's Nicole? Your You said your sister? Yeah. She resides with you? Yeah. Me and my daughter sleep at her house. Okay. When was the last time you spoke to Nicole? About 2 hours ago before I left. Basically, like sometimes we sleep at her house. >> You said your daughter originally stays in North Port? She originally stays in North Port because I was incarcerated, basically. So, she was staying at her dad's mother's house. >> Okay. >> My sister moved in here. Since then, like I've been deciding like it's best for us to sleep together, but I stepped out. So, my sister's not here. You said your sister's not here? >> Apparently. All right. >> my daughter is alone. Yeah. Yeah. Who's on the phone right now? My friend that live right here. What's um Let me grab a pad of paper. I'm going to grab Nicole's number real quick. While the mother didn't seem to care, her sister showed up asking, "Is my niece okay?" Then bluntly denied everything Kirsha had made up. At the same time, police revealed a text from the mother. "If the cops call, don't answer." Hi, is this Nicole? Who is this? This is Deputy Chandler, Charlotte County Sheriff's Office. I was hoping to just speak with you. Um are you at home at North Port or the uh Centennial area? >> No. No. Where are you currently at if you don't mind me asking you? I don't live in North Port. No, no, no. Centennial's in Port Charlotte, ma'am. I don't live over there either. Okay. Um we're just trying to figure out there was like some miscommunication with your sister or something like that. Where did What's your current address then if you don't mind me asking? >> Can you tell me what this call is about? I'm sorry. >> It's about Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry. I guess someone was supposed to like set up plans to watch uh the your niece. That's what we're trying to figure out. So, I just want to make sure I'm I got to speak to the right person. Is she okay? >> Yeah, yeah, no, everything's okay. We're just following up is all. Nope, she's she's perfectly fine. I live at Okay. She told that lady that she didn't even live there. Yeah, so where are you at? I live in Port I said, "What were you doing?" Just I'm sleeping. Were you supposed to watch the niece? Nicole said that's a bunch of She gave me a completely different address to come to. I guarantee she doesn't know these people in this apartment complex. She's probably texting her sister and like, "Hey, don't talk to the cops or whatever." At this point, the mother began to reveal the truth, but even in her confession, >> [music] >> the lies slipped through everywhere. I'm just going to get a If you don't mind, I'm just going to have to speak with her real quick. So, I'm just going to get a quick statement just so we have everything cuz every time we get called something we have to document it. What uh what happened and just so we can I have something to say what what took place and how this ended up being the way it is, okay? I I do have to ask first question. Are you I know that my phone's out of job, all right? Okay. Do you know the meaning of perjury? Okay. Perjury is committing lies, false information, leaving out truths, half truths, anything like that. That's just a crime in the state of Florida. Okay. Having that said, would you raise your right hand? Do you swear affirm the statement you're about to give is the truth, whole truth, nothing but the truth? Okay. Just kind of take me through what you were telling me earlier about the whole situation with your daughter, how that all Basically, you know, I left at about 9:00. This is my sister's house. It's just been a lot of family issues. Okay. So, basically, I left for a few hours to go do a couple things and Okay. you guys approached me saying that am I telling Um something Mhm. saying that she is by herself. I had no knowledge that she's by herself. Okay. So, basically, my daughter is by herself. You guys won't let me go over there where she's at and nothing like that and I'm very angry right now. No, I get that. We just had to again, we she's she's over there with a deputy. We just have to get a couple things from you or what not. Okay, and that's your sister's address? Correct. >> And how long she lived there for? Almost a year. Okay. Yeah. Almost a year. And what kind of car does Nicole What does Nicole drive? A Honda. It was here when you left? Yeah. Okay. I can't sleep at her daughter's at her dad's father's house. They won't allow me to. So, therefore, all we have is my sister. I don't know what the she's doing. I'm pissed the [ __ ] off right now. Okay. >> That's all I can tell you. I got you. And what was said cuz you told me earlier that you spoke with her. What did you guys talk about? >> leaving for a second. I'll be back. That's it. And what did she say? Okay. She said okay? Yeah. Just give me 1 second. I'll be right back with you and then we'll see about the whole letting you see her and all that, okay? >> drive over there. I got you. Like this is my daughter. Just Just hang tight real quick and then we'll we'll work on that. One by [snorts] one, her sister and then the grandmother showed up and oddly enough, each unintentionally helped unravel Kirsha's fabricated story. Do you swear affirm the statement you're about to give is the whole truth, the truth, nothing but the truth? Were you asked to watch your niece? >> where it gets me and my sister we get into it almost every day. I cut her off, blocked her. And then for the past couple weeks, she's been blocked. So, when you called me saying that I was supposed to be watching her, I was confused and you were like, "Miscommunication." I'm like, "There's been no communication." >> Ah, okay. I didn't even know that she was here here in general cuz Do you know whose house this is? No, that's why. I've been here before. I visited when they were over here cuz she my sister cooks and sells food. Oh, okay. >> She uses it, but usually she rents like Airbnb, so I always go to different houses with her while she cooks. Okay. So, you have never lived here? No. You've never stayed the night here? Did You haven't spoken to your sister? No, but she texted me when we got off the phone and said if the cops call you, don't answer. She said what now? Off of a fake number. Oh. She texted me and said >> Would you mind if I took a look? I don't want to get in your business, but I appreciate it. Okay. Is this grandma? I think so. Yep. All right. He said Ma'am, do you know who normally who lives here? He's a Haitian. She is Haitian. She can barely speak Your She your sister called her to come get the Yeah, I just got here. He called me here. Yeah. Does she normally stay with you? Yeah, always, always. >> Always? Okay. How Hey. Grandma, I'm here by myself. Okay, I'm here. Come I'm coming with you. All right. We just got to You're going to school tomorrow? Can you see if my mom is here or not? I don't know. We got to Everybody's just got to hang out. We just got to figure out what the miscommunication was. Apparently, she was left here alone. Um so, we got to figure out what's going on with that. What is it? Hey, that's a centipede. It's a centipede. Yeah. It's one of those that that has all the legs and it rolls into a little ball. Oh, it was on the wall. Yeah, it is now. Let me see. Let me Let me see. No, no, no, no, no. Don't don't don't don't don't. I I I No, no. What is a tickle jumper? No, he's going to bite you. This one is not good to to to play with. >> Dad, that's not spiders. Okay. And your tickle is terrifying. You're staring. Come come come with me. You're crazy. Turns [snorts] out everyone was lying from Kirsha to her entire family. But it seems there's still one more witness out there. Grandma will be taking the child to her house, not to the other house where the previous investigation was. So, the the child's not going to be with >> That's a lie. the possible suspect from the other case. You know what I'm coming from? What? Everybody Everybody's lying. Everybody in the whole world is lying except for her. She's the only one being honest, this girl. She's talking to somebody. She's She's Everybody else is lying. I'm serious. What is the phone call? You hear the Listen to the phone call. I can't right now. Okay. Can we just put handcuffs on her and get her out of here? What I'll do, I'll go over there. I'll scoop the child black dress girl. We'll slap cuffs on her. Okay. All right, that works. I'm playing your damn self on the mother phone. All you doing is [ __ ] lying. Put the camera in my phone. I'm Sergeant Robert Garrison. I can't say. And you live around here? Yeah, I live right here. Now, do you ever babysit the baby or stuff like that? I used to be her teacher back in the day, back in daycare, and I've known her for a while. The mother, Kirsha, was arrested and held on a charge of child Under Florida law, this offense carries up to 5 years in prison or 5 years of probation along with a maximum fine of $5,000. Bail can range from $2,500 to $7,000. Why? >> I'm going to lose it all. I just got to take care of something. Do you mind? I know you got important phone call, but I'm on the phone with my daughter's grandma. Okay. They're already over there, so we got to put the phone down. All right, what's up? >> All right. And I just need to put your hands behind your back. Going to jail for child When you tried to contact your sister, she couldn't get through to you cuz you were blocked, but we got the number that you tried to send her in, so just FYI. I took a picture of it. She don't got me blocked. >> Okay. Well, we got the text message of her you telling her not to talk to us, so I just want to let you know. What? Can I get a sip of my drink? Make a phone call first? No, you got to make a phone call to jail. We're we're not making phone calls today. No. When you're at the jail, you can make plenty of calls. >> going have sit up here take a couple of these. Ma'am, this doesn't make Would you check this out, ready? No. So, my sister can make Look at that. We'll do it again, right? No. Just give me my purse. Give me my phone. Yeah, we'll just take her down there. We're just going to go down here, ma'am. So, what y'all doing with my daughter? She's going to go with a family member. Yeah, her grandma, right? >> Yeah, well, that's all going to be verified and okayed by DCF, so she's She's staying with us until DCF approves all this. Yeah, definitely seeing you. I just got here. Do you have anything on you? No, just some money. Other than that? No. Nothing, okay. I'm on probation and I've never been to jail. Okay. My daughter is with her grandma, correct? Yeah, I I double-check that to make sure, you know. You're welcome. No property other than the the money, right? All the other property you gave to your friend? Yeah. Okay. Thank you. I once saw a single mom in a poor neighborhood who left her child home all day to go to work. The difference was she didn't lie. As soon as she got back, she held her child tight, apologized, and stayed up all night sewing for clients. No one is born knowing how to be a parent, but honesty, effort, and responsibility are what truly make the difference. Right in a family's backyard, a shovel was raised amid screams. And in the corner of the yard, a trembling boy spoke the truth no one wanted to hear. So, you were running around in the face of the dog and you were helping the shovel would scare him into the house? Yeah. On September 14th, 2024, a neighbor frantically called 911 after hearing a fierce argument and spotting someone with a shovel running around the yard. Fairborn police rushed to the neighborhood. At the scene, while questioning the mother, Ashley, they uncovered a family mess, conflicting stories, theft accusations, [music] and at its peak, a terrifying claim. Hey, ma'am. Can I talk to you for a second? >> What do you want now? What do you mean? Did something happen today? Like what? Do you know why we got called here? No. You have no idea? I guess we were being loud. Okay. Did anything happen that we need to know about or No. >> What do you mean uh you were being loud? Like what what caused you to be loud? His daughter stole my ID with all my credit cards and everything in it and my bank accounts and I can't do anything about it. So, I finally found my card and my bank statement and my social security card and now they're mysteriously missing once again. So, we got a little argument. Was he take all of that first time or do you not know it got stolen or something? His daughter stole >> His daughter stole it? Stole my whole entire wallet. >> So, that's what kind of caused you to argue? Yeah, and my dad's dying in the hospital and I haven't had sleep. I can't eat. I'm just You got a lot going on. A lot. >> The neighbors called cuz they were worried and they heard that there was a lot of arguing and stuff going on, but did anything Was there anything that happened other than you guys arguing? No. You guys didn't didn't get physical? No. Do you know why they might have said um that somebody was running around in the front yard with a shovel? I was chasing the dog. You're chasing the dog? Why were you chasing the dog? He's scared of the shovel. I wasn't going to hit him or anything, but I was trying to get him in the house. So, you were running around in the face of the dog and you were helping the shovel would scare him into the house? Yeah. Who else was outside? Nobody at that time, I don't think. Okay. So, were you arguing with with John when that was going on? I don't know, officer. Was he inside or was he outside? >> I think he was outside. >> he was outside? So, was he trying to get the dog, too, or Yeah, we were just trying to get the dog in the house. We were just about to take him to get another ID. >> Were there any like threats made or anything? >> No, man. That's just really a waste of your time, man. >> I know. I did I just have to ask a question. I'm not saying that that happened. I just have to ask. My son You're trying to see in there? As if the situation were not already convoluted, the shovel continued to be referenced in connection with various functions, raising significant suspicions. It's going on today, man. No, I was just arguing Arguing over her credit card, you know. >> Okay. Do you care if I go in and look for him? Yeah, he's in there. I don't want you in my house, no. You say he's like that? >> Because I have every right to be. >> Whatever, man. >> We're just trying to make sure that everybody's okay cuz the neighbors called and JP, I want to make sure you're okay, buddy. He can't hear the greatest. How old is he? Nine. Since you don't want me to go in there and try to >> Just go in there and make sure he's okay. That's why she's loud because she screams loud. >> Loud because I grew up in a house with 85 people and you had to scream loud. So, was there anything that happened other than arguing? No, I didn't take her credit card. She keeps thinking I took her credit card. >> That's kind of what you guys fighting over? Uh-huh. Hey, buddy. She said my daughter stole it, she thinks. That's fine, man. So, I was going to run her down this morning while she could get her ID, you know. Mhm. But I had to work, that's why it was argument cuz I needed to work. What happened with the shovel? The shovel was sitting there. I threw it over there off the fence. I don't know. Amid the storm of adult lies, the boy trembled and said, "My mom tried to stab Johnny and me." Grown-ups can twist the truth, but the fear in a child's eyes can't be faked. What's going on, buddy? So, what's going on? So, earlier, my mom tried to stab Johnny and me because I don't I don't know why she tried to do this, but I think she just went a little crazy. I don't know what she's All right, are you okay? Um yeah, but When did When did this happen? Did it happen this morning? Yes. Okay. What did she try to stab you with? >> A knife. A knife. Where is it? Okay. Why was Why was she doing that? >> know. I think she lost her memory a little bit. Memories a little bit? Yeah, it happened last night, too, cuz she had a She had a stroke. She had a stroke? Yeah. So, she tried to stab you and and John? Yep, but um it's over now, so it's so we're we're fine now. Okay. Did she Did she actually get close to you or No, she she pulled me and then she tried to do it. She tried to do it? Yeah. Were you Were you inside the house when this happened? Yes, yeah, but I I ran outside the I think it was like 10 minutes before you guys got here. >> Got you. Does your mom do this a lot? >> No, she doesn't. Um she doesn't do this a lot. I think she just went crazy a little bit. Mhm. Did she try to stab John, too? She said you guys were going to die. That's what she said, but I'm glad I got away. So, where was he when it all happened? He didn't get um yet cuz um he was He went out of the the house for safety because when this all happened and then after that, I just ran out of the house. They called. Mhm. I got his info, the guy that called. He said that he John came over cuz I called police. He had a shovel and they said that John had the shovel? Yeah. She was trying She had something, couldn't tell what, but he was John was trying to keep distance from her. She was yelling. That's all they heard. They didn't see anything physical. But that's all they heard. He just said call the police. So, John went over there and said call the police? Yeah, I think he was maybe somewhere around here, but their camera didn't pick up anything. But the father denied it, claiming there was no just a shovel that accidentally flew across the yard during the fight. He even used the excuse, "He's special," as a shield to defend the blatant lies. Hey, John, can I talk to you for a second? >> Yeah. What happened? Nothing, man. We just arguing over the credit card, I swear to God. That's what we was arguing about. We come outside and we was arguing. That girl was over there, that shovel was right there. I threw it over there while she wouldn't Did you go over there and Did you go over and talk to the neighbors? >> No, I said I was going to go over there and talk to the neighbor and make sure that you keep running your mouth, I'll have them call the police. That's exactly what I said. >> Okay. What did you tell the neighbors? Nothing. I didn't see nothing. She walked She walked right there by the car, you know what I'm saying? She was out Look like she was going to work. The girl did. Mhm. Across the street and that was it. But we ain't No, we ain't got no friends or nothing like that. So, But she keeps accusing me of taking that wallet and her license and I ain't took her ID. How was the How was the shovel involved here? That shovel was sitting right there on the side of the house. It's a broken shovel. It's just junk. I meant to throw it away. It's just been sitting there. There ain't nobody messed with that shovel or So, why did So, why did the neighbors say that one of you guys had the shovel? One was I didn't throw I just threw it right over there. I didn't So, why did you Sure, sure. No one's seen No one's seen you do it. I'm just asking. No, I just I threw it over there because she was on a outrage over her license. >> Why did you ever Why did you pick up the shovel in the first place? I just threw it over there. Just Just to throw it over there. I mean, I don't trust too many people at all, period, on anything, you know. I understand. There's there, I'm going to try to get rid of it. There's there's a fence there, I'm going to get >> saw it there cuz you were just trying to get it out of the way? >> Yeah, just threw it over there. The neighbor told her that neighbor's over there, she's going to call the law and you keep screaming and I took your license. >> So, the neighbor said that you went over there and you told them to call the police. >> No, I did not. I was standing right in front of the yard there and that woman was getting in the car across the street. I swear. I said she was going to call the law. So, what happened inside that caused this all to come out? >> Cuz she woke me up this morning and I just I always come out on the front porch and then it just escalated to that, you know what I'm saying? Arguing over that, you know. Um man, I ain't going to hurt her, she ain't going to hurt me. So, how was We was just arguing over there because she wanted to go up there by 9:00 and I said I got to be at work at 9:00. So, how was Jacob involved in all this? That's her son. He ain't involved in this. So, he wasn't involved at all today? No, he was involved. He's in the house while we was arguing. So, here's what he's telling us happened. So, he's saying that Ashley tried to she she grabbed a knife or she had a knife at some point and she tried to him and tried to stab you. No, man. Hey, I don't know what he's always says something about I don't get it. Honestly, I swear last night we was at the hospital. What you What were you at the hospital for? Cuz her dad's in there dying. Okay. And then I couldn't find him and then she calls and said there was black guys there and then he starts screaming, "Guys, they got Guys, they got knives." I said, "What the hell are you talking about?" Cuz she was lost in the parking lot, you know what I'm saying? Last night at on purple level, whatever that is, return to Dayton. This was probably about 9:30, 10:00, you know what I'm saying? I don't know. He's got everything about knives. mean all the way there. You know what I'm saying? What do you mean by that? >> Yeah, he's a special needed kid. Does he say stuff like that often? >> Well, I mean he says he's all kinds of So, is he making all He takes him to the I'm trying to think to the place over there, Michael's house. He goes there and you know what I'm saying? >> Is this a situation where he might have misunderstood what happened or is he making this up? >> I don't know what he's doing. >> What happened that he is there something that happened that he might have thought that there might have been a involved or that that he did? >> I don't know. Don't know. Maybe I don't know. I don't know. There ain't no involved. >> That's kind of a Well, there ain't no I don't know what's going on. >> out of pocket statement for a child to make. There ain't no child abuse. He's with his mother. No, no, no. No one's saying >> care. We taking the freaks with my daughter. >> saying No one's saying that there is any child abuse. I'm just trying to figure out why he made those statements. >> I don't know, man. You have nothing that can >> No. I got nothing. I'm just trying to get to work, man. I got a ton of work to do and then I didn't need this. I mean, you got to more important. I I understand that that's important to you. And then that's what she didn't understand. I keep telling her I got to pay these bills. Things spiraled into chaos. Ashley screamed, "I didn't have [music] an then demanded to see attorney Tom Collins. She went on to yell, cry, and put on a frantic show just to prove how crazy she could be. Did something happen last night, too? No. Where is Ashley what? I tried to stab I mean Tell them I tried to stab him. I WOULD NEVER DO THAT. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? I DON'T KNOW, BUT he said the same thing. He said I said very nice guy. He didn't try to stab Let me sit down over here. I tried to stab him and he said No one's SAYING HE TALKS TO YOU GUYS. I WANT A LAWYER HERE NOW. CALL TOM COLLINS. CALL TOM COLLINS right now. Sure will. He talks to you and then all of a sudden I'm trying to She didn't try to stab nobody, man. All of a all of a sudden I'm trying to stab my child. YOU GUYS ALREADY F- hate me for trying to sue you and take your livelihood for trying to take my kid for 2 years and give him with f- here. again. I have no idea who you are except for the information you provided me this morning. So, right now like like I don't know if she doesn't understand this. We're trying to explain it to her. >> I know. We're just trying to figure out what he's talking about. I don't know what he's I understand that. Yeah. We're not We're just trying to investigate that statement cuz I think that's pretty shocking. >> They did this to her before, you know what I'm saying? Ashley, take him out, man. She thinks you're going to take her kids. He did that to her before. We're just trying to figure out what's going on. Ashley You can do whatever you got to do. I'm going inside to see Ashley, YOU'RE NOT GOING INSIDE. CALL TOM COLLINS RIGHT NOW. I ain't got my phone. Please, settle down. Don't get into NO CALL THE NEWS. CALL TOM COLLINS. THEY'RE TRYING TO TO TAKE MY KID. ASHLEY, WE'RE TRYING to figure out what's going on. We still have a seat. I can't breathe. >> [laughter] >> I'm throwing these Can I throw these away? >> No, so you can tell me I'm just joking. and the medics. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN AFTER ME FOR 3 YEARS. Nobody knows You don't even know who you are. We know that your name is Ashley Roberts and that you live here. You guys have been after me for 3 years trying to take my kid. THERE'S 27 police reports. Meanwhile, John stayed [music] fully committed to his role in the drama. My wife didn't have a He said they had there's guys here with the knives. I don't know what they're talking about last night. >> So, what what did he say? What were his words? >> lot when we was in the parking lot. That was it. There was a black I said there was some black guys. She said there was some black guys in the parking lot and there's a bunch of them. They're going to end up taking her to jail. I know what they're going to do. I want to be clear. Yeah. Neighbors aren't accusing you of anything. >> I ain't did nothing. >> Jacob's not I Listen, neighbors aren't accusing you of anything. Jacob's not accusing you of anything. >> I need you to be honest with me. All right, no one's saying According to the neighbors, you had the shovel cuz you were trying to protect yourself. No, I wasn't protecting myself, you know. So, why'd you have the shovel? I picked it up from the side of house and throwed it over there. Cuz you were afraid that she was going to use it or something? I don't put it past nobody. And I just throwed it over there. You live with her, right? Yeah, but anything dis- domestic There it is. You guys asked him about the shovel. Right. Right or wrong? I'm asking because clearly you felt that That's truth though, for God's sakes. I'm not If she cuz if the what the neighbor us and she actually had a knife, then you picking up a shovel She didn't have a knife. She did not have a knife period. Bought online. No He he'll say all kinds of you know, you don't know what he's saying half the time, you know? That's what I was trying to tell him. He goes to that Michael house and you know? Sure, that doesn't necessarily mean I mean that doesn't necessarily mean he's lying to us. Yeah, he come in and this was 3 or 4 years ago he said the grandfather was But then she pursues up to it and then they throw her in jail. And then that's why she's and any mother would do that, you know what I'm saying? pursuing to it, don't you think? >> Pursuing to it? I don't know what that means. He said the grandfather was playing with it. Mhm. And then she pursued it up, called the police, and then they had taken the children and they did this and that and then then they act like she was lying. >> I have no idea any of You know what I'm saying? But why would he say that, you know? He said I mean I don't know. I feel like there's a lot of I don't know. She didn't have no knives in her hand. I ain't going to lie. She did not have a knife in her hand. He was there every day. I take him and drop him off every morning. I just started to let him walk from school to here, you know what I'm saying? When you say that he's involved in Michael's house, what what do you mean by that? Like what? >> The grand He said the grandfather was touching him. But you told me that he was he has special needs. Like what does that mean? Yeah, he gets a he all he ain't all the way there in the head. Does he see anybody for that or >> Yeah, she was then she he gets a check and everything for it, you know? My thing is you keep saying you said he's special. You can't give me any You can't elaborate on that at all. It's kind of weird. Yeah, it was before I Now, I only been with her with her 3 years and I don't he was a special needs kids before I got with her. So, I ain't went down in that road and find out of how far what he was there for or what. Even though the neighbors saw it all and recounted everything in detail, the father stubbornly stuck to a completely different script. You guys called Were they in like the yard or Well, so my daughter came out to get in her car cuz she was going to soccer practice. Yeah. >> He was on this porch with a shovel in his hand Okay. He told her to He looked at my daughter and he said, "Call the effing cops." So, she came back inside and she's telling us that he has a shovel. She told me to call the cops. So, my husband called 911. So, when I happened to look out, he was coming back past the house. She came running out. She has her fist and she has something in her hand, but I can't tell what it is. And she takes off running. They end up by that light pole right there. And um she kind of grabbed at his arm, told him to come back, and he was like, "I'm not going back. You're crazy." And meanwhile, the little boy is I don't hear him >> was saying the little boy was outside. >> At first he was in the house and then he ended up coming out, too. So, this Was he just like screaming or was he >> He's just screaming like like a terrified Okay. And then when he So, when he asked he said, "Call 911." Was he directing it at your daughter or was he saying >> "Call the effing cops." >> Okay. Where was he at? He was in this yard here He was on their front porch with the shovel. I was like, "Why do you have a shovel?" And that's when we happened to just watch out the window cuz she was leaving to go to soccer practice, so. You didn't tell her to call the police? No. I said she's going to end up calling the police and I walked over towards the I got a 20 g playing it right there. Walk towards that tree there. I said, "They're going to call the law on you." And then I come back here and we calmed down, went inside, and then I and then that's when I heard brakes, you know how they squeal pulling up. And I said, "They're here now. I told you they're going to call the So, why'd you have the shovel when you were over there? Where? When you were over on the front porch of the other house? I was right there with the shovel. The shovel was right here. I understand what you're telling me. Walked about right there and I zinged it under there. We've got witnesses that are saying that that's not what happened. And you don't know at all why they why they'd be telling us that. I ain't went over there with no shovel. I ain't went nowhere with no shovel. I zinged it underneath there. That's where I've been with the shovel. >> No one's saying you were hitting anybody with a shovel, okay? No one's saying that. Okay. I ain't been walking over there or there. I zinged it right up underneath that thing. >> But there's somebody who saw you over there. So, that's just telling me that you're not giving us the whole story. They kept making excuses blind [music] to the toxic environment they had created for the kids, one filled with lies and emotional threats. While Ashley played the role of the wronged victim, the children's real suffering was left ignored with no one held accountable. The adult I've told you my son was a sweet That's not what their story is. They're just pissed off at the situation that we've had in the past, first off. But they're adults. >> And the fact that John worked on their car and they if they weren't happy to their satisfaction. So, you think they're making that all up? >> Yeah, I do. Do you care if I go inside? I told you I didn't want you in my house or anything. I'm trying to see if there's actual knife If you think your son's not telling the truth, this is the one way that we can prove that. But if you don't feel comfortable with it, then I'm not going to Yeah, but I mean there's dishes. There might be a knife. There's things, but go ahead. Go ahead. Go in. Could you grab me a a blanket or a jacket? I can't go in the house. Well, You can move into the sun if you want. If you want to slide over here, might be a little bit warmer. It's been a rough week, you know? I know, yeah. See that. You know my dad he he's not going to make it. They gave him like 12 hours to live. Mhm. And it's coming out of his nose and eyes and ears. He's just not going to make it. I just don't want to incriminate myself because there might be some dishes I'm missing. That's why we're not going to go in. If you that's what you tell us, we're not going to go in. I just said you can go in. >> Wait, but you also just said you don't want to incriminate yourself. I mean I'm not That's not what I mean. I'm not trying I'm just saying it's complicated. And if if there's a question of whether we're allowed to go in or not, we're always going to err on the side of not going in, you know? Even though even though you just told me I could go, you also said that you wanted us to get a warrant. Are you getting a warrant? We're not there yet. Man, I don't have all day. I'm delirious. Just go in. I have nothing to hide. >> that you're saying that now, but just a second ago I'm delirious. I've had a sandwich in in Right. >> 2 and 1/2 weeks. >> I understand, which is why when you already told us Just go in, please. Cuz I want my life back. Just go. It's not how things work, unfortunately. I said you could go in. I don't need hours for to wake up a judge to get a warrant. I have nothing to hide. Go in, please. That's not even up to me at this point, cuz I'm not the one in charge here. >> Who's Is that the sergeant? That's Officer Don Letty. He's he's my supervisor. He said we're not going in, we're not going in. >> May I ask you if you care if I could talk to your son real quick? My son was asleep when you guys got here. And the neighbor said he wasn't even out here. Actually, actually, like you said, asking questions, I'll be able to He's not giving me the correct information or not. Go in the house. I'm not going in the house. I'm asking for your permission to go talk to your son. That's fine. Are you able to go? Please tell him what's going on. That's why I'm trying to I'm trying to figure everything out. I know this is It's 2 hours. I understand that. I have medical issues. I need to take my medicine. This time, the parents began to lose ground [music] as more witnesses came forward to recount the incident. And I heard them like yelling or whatever. And then the guy, he went in like knocked on their door and was standing on this person's like steps or whatever. And he had the shovel in his hand. And he turned and looked at me and he was like, "You better call the effing cops." >> Okay, he looked at you and said that. >> And then he just kept like repeating himself and then walked back in and she was like screaming at him. >> He he walked back in? No, he just walked back towards their house. And then I think she walked in and then he like followed her in there. And then that's when they closed the door. But the kid was like screaming and everything. >> Where was the kid at? >> Inside. I never saw him. >> was inside. Okay, so after she left then the kid came back out. >> when then he was running down by the light pole. >> Okay. And then she took off running after him. So they went back inside and then that's when When I left. They went inside and then I left. And that soon as she pulled off, he came went running back down towards that light post. And she came running out, too. And then the kid was outside, too, but he was screaming while he was inside. >> Got you. Was somebody chasing somebody or >> Yeah, he ran down that way and she ran after him. >> Okay. And then where did the the kid run after that then? He was down by the light post, too. So he ran after them or in front of them? >> I don't know if he was in front of them or beside them, but he ended up running with them. Yeah, when the the dad or who whatever he is was standing at the light post, he was standing kind of on the side of him. After questioning each person and piecing together the chaos, police finally [music] decided the mother was handcuffed. Like an old script, she just repeated, "I didn't do anything." Then panicked and asked for her mom. Kid said that he heard them arguing or talking in the kitchen. Mom had a kitchen in her hand. He described it as this big brown handle and gray sharp part. And I had him pull out my pen and show me like where she had the knife and everything like that. So she grabbed his shirt like this in the middle of the shirt and pulled him. And then he made the motion like she was trying to his stomach. And he pulled away and then he wasn't able to run out the back door because she had it blocked. So he ran out the front door cuz he was able to get away from her by pulling away. And he said that he had to back up once he got outside because he thought she was going to come out with a knife. But she never came out with He heard his mom say, "You're going to He doesn't know if that was to him or to him, but he made the general statement that you're going to He said that several times. Said that his mom has a hard time controlling her mind, body, and voice sometimes and kept saying that she had his shirt last night. It's just a big misunderstanding. And we're going off off that and plus what the neighbor said and the fact that he's not really cooperating. Yeah. So we're going to have both of them listed as the victim. Do me a favor and turn around for me. Why? Cuz you're being arrested. So turn around. >> For what? I'll explain it, okay? Turn around. Can I call my mom? Should I get a lawyer? I'll go ahead and just call your mom for you, okay? Put your hands behind your back for me, okay? What am I getting arrested for? >> We'll explain everything. I didn't do anything. Yeah. Huh? Do I have a bond? We'll get to all that, I promise you. Why am I Even John told you I didn't do anything. >> Is this too tight for you? >> What are the charges? All right, hold on. Hold on, okay? We'll explain everything. Just be still for us for a second. I let you go in my house and everything. I didn't do anything. Why am I being arrested? We're going to walk over here to my car, okay? No, I want to know what the going on. We'll explain it to you. >> Can I see John real quick? Just turn and face that wall. Can I please see my husband real quick? Why am I being arrested? He said I COULD GO. I DIDN'T do anything. WHY AM I BEING ARRESTED? >> want your stuff to stay here with the or do you want it to go with you? >> to be able to go in the jail, unfortunately. They have the box in the at the jail. They won't give me some box in there? Jail? Yeah. It's medical you're prescribed, right? They won't give it to you. The way it is until you CVS or whatever they they They won't give it. Please. We'll still for me. >> Please don't let them arrest me. I didn't do anything. >> why? I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. GOT anything else on you? >> What am I BEING ARRESTED FOR? I'LL EXPLAIN IT TO YOU. >> NO, TELL ME NOW. LET ME SEE JOHN. I'LL get everything YOU ASK. MY SON WAS ASLEEP. I HAVE PROOF OF IT. Just as expected, Ashley put on another act. "I can't breathe. They're going to kill me." Then flailing [music] and collapsing onto the street. Oh, turns out she has a condition. Inconveniently, [music] it always comes back right on time. We've got medics that are going to come check you out, okay? I keep the door open, does that help or does that make it worse? Are you able to talk to me, Ashley? I can hear you breathing. Are you going to talk to me? My heart my heart my heart What's wrong with your heart? >> my heart Oh my heart. Ashley, stop. They're going to kill me. They're going to kill me. Who's going to kill you? They're going to kill me. They're going to kill me. No one's going to kill you, Ashley. >> to kill me. They're going to kill me. Who's going to kill you? They're going to They're going to I'm not going to kill you. >> to kill me. Mother lost you. I didn't do The ambulance is on the way, okay? I think you're just crying, Ashley. Help me. Help me. Help me. Help me. Help me. Help me. They're going to kill me. Help me. They're going to kill me. They just want to kill me. They're They're going to They're watching me. Who's watching you? They're watching us. They're watching me. They're going to kill Stop. Stop messing with the handcuffs, Ashley. I can't breathe. Get this thing off my goddamn neck. I can't breathe. Do you want me to take the seatbelt off? It's not even on your neck, Ashley. >> Get it off, please. All right, I'll take the seatbelt off. Get it off of me. I can't breathe. Stop pulling on the handcuffs, Ashley. They're going to kill me. They're going to kill What are you trying to do? I'm trying to hold my chest. Your chest? Ashley, stop. Officer Don Letty, come here. Ashley >> [laughter and clears throat] >> Are you able to sit up for us? Sit for us, okay? We're going to help you up if you'll sit up. Are you pregnant? Are you pregnant? Yes, I'm pregnant. How far along are you? Sit up for us, okay? Hey Ashley, what's your due date of birth, ma'am? I don't know. I don't know where I'm at. I don't know this. Pneumonia. You have pneumonia? Yeah. Like currently or have you have you just had it in the past? No. Your oxygen saturation right now is 97%. >> care. I can't breathe. I'm having a mental breakdown. What? Mental breakdown? Yeah. What are you having difficulty breathing is what we're asking. Yes. Your oxygen levels are fine. Ashley You got to lay on your back. Roll over for him. I can't. Ashley We're taking you to the hospital. We're going to have you following you guys. Sowing? Yeah. All right. Even if Ashley has a medical condition, the law makes no exceptions. She's been charged with bringing children, felonious assault, aggravated assault, and domestic violence. Under Ohio law, the maximum penalty could reach 20 years in prison or over $30,000 in fines. Bail is expected to range from $50,000 to $100,000 or she may be held without bond. No one is born to become a threat to their own family. But denial, blame shifting, and loss [music] of control turned a mother into the very reason her child had to run away. When police are forced to step in and do what should have been a parent's responsibility, it's a sign that the consequences have gone too far. What we've just witnessed are not merely charges on paper, but fractured homes and children losing their most fragile sense of safety. We hope this video helps you recognize the importance of personal responsibility and clear judgment [music] in every choice. If these stories gave you something to reflect on, don't forget to like, share, and subscribe so we can continue bringing you deeper perspectives. [music] See you tomorrow. >> [music] [music]