Officers received a 911 call from a bystander who reported finding a 10-year-old girl alone on the street. But as officers looked deeper, they uncovered a disturbing story. >> Explain to me, which you live in building 23? >> I do. >> Okay. And then she ran out when you were coming home. >> Um, yeah. So, I I don't know if Well, I guess you came from that way, but uh I came from the other entrance and I was going up the hill >> before I turned left to go down this hill. She was just standing at the corner waving me down >> like out on the street. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Like the apartment complex road. >> Gotcha. Okay. >> Um and so I pulled over, pulled out my window, and she asked me if I could drive her somewhere. And so I wasn't sure if it was her house or anything, so I just had her come sit in the vehicle so I could see how far it was and ask her all these questions. Um >> it's about an hour away. It's her grandpa's. I didn't feel comfortable without her mom knowing. So, I I told her we're just going to call the police and see what they can do. She just doesn't feel safe going home. >> Sure. Does she know where she lives? Like her >> She does. Yeah, she uh she lives in these apartments just >> up the hill. >> Up the hill. Okay. Um and then I think dispatch mentioned she has bruising. >> Yeah, I didn't She does have like a little bruise on her forehead. I guess it happened yesterday. Okay. >> Um >> she mentioned anything about like mom hitting her or anything? after we talked about it a little bit more, she my mentioned her mom who's quite abusive actually. >> Okay. >> And has history in the police system, I believe. She said she goes to court, >> stuff like that. So, >> okay. She's just fine in there by herself. >> She's just I mean, she's a little she's crying every once in a while and probably scared. >> Okay. Do you have your ID? >> Uh, I can grab out the vehicle. >> Yeah, that's fine. If you just want to get it and have her I can come talk to her. Which side is she on? >> Oh, she's on this side. I I guess I'm just trying to get more information as to what what's going on here. Just try to figure out what's what's happening. Um you ever talked to the police before? >> Yeah. Okay. >> And Anakah was telling me that you you live around here. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Kind of far. >> Um well, I mean, just tell me what's what's happening. What's going on? >> Um this morning I got up. My mom told me that >> while the house was like clean from the last time I clean I woke up she told me clean and today she said that we're going to go see Seattle lights. >> Okay. >> But then she like no we're not going to go and then um we have to take out garbage and she told me to look for something. She told me to look for shoe or whatever in the car and then I couldn't find it and I said it wasn't there. Then she said she shut up and then she put me in the corner and then she started hitting me and then she kicked me and she told me to stay in the corner and the top is often. >> Okay. >> She has PTSD from the military. >> Okay. >> And she always gets mad at me >> for no reason sometimes. >> When you said she's hitting you. >> Sorry it's hard. But could you like What does that What does that look like? >> She hits like this. >> Yeah. >> Sometimes she uses her fist like does this like that? And this morning when she told me to go to the corner, she pushes my head to like the wall corner part. >> Yeah. >> And sometimes when she tells me to go to the corner, she goes to sleep and she forgets to tell me to get out of the corner and she forgets to tell me. So sometimes I just stand there all day until I fall asleep and then the next morning she tells me to get out of bed or get out of the corner and then she tells me to start cleaning again. >> Yeah, I'm sorry. >> And she hits me a lot. Even we used to live in with my grandpa. >> Yeah. >> He used to take care of me >> where my mom used to work. >> Is that that's who you were trying to go visit now? You were trying to get to your grandpa >> so he could talk to her. He's the only person that she'll listen to or listen to. But after a while, she just goes back to normal. >> Okay. Um, that's >> I tried to go see my grandpa so I could tell her about what's happening cuz she said that she wouldn't care if I ran away. >> She's like because my other brother and sister she had to run away before >> and my dad left when I was three and my brothers and sisters is they're my half brothers and sisters. So their dad took them away and so my mom has a lot of trauma and their my dad used to beat her. >> Oh, okay. cuz he was a drunk. >> So my mom had a lot of trauma and so she just takes it out of me. She yells at me and she tells me that the reason why he left was because of me. >> Wow. Yeah, that's that's horrible. I'm sorry. Um, how long ago did you leave today? >> When did you leave the house or when did you leave your apartment? >> Around 3:25. >> Yeah. Did you like look at a clock or something like that to see what time it was? Cuz I I had my boots on cuz like I said, we went to go take out the garbage. We came inside. I didn't have to take off my shoes cuz she just told me to go straight to the corner. >> Yeah. >> And then she pushed my head in there and then I still have my jacket on and stuff so you didn't have to like grab stuff. >> You said she pushed your head in the corner. >> Yeah. >> Did your head hit like the wall or anything? >> Yes, it did. >> Could you show me where? >> Right here. >> Okay. >> And she hits me a lot. it. I I never I kind of afraid when I >> If you want to close your eyes, it's really bright. I just want to see it real quick. >> Okay. Sorry. It's like a super bright flashlight. Um you said she did she hit you other than that today? >> She kicked me. I fell asleep reading a book when I was supposed to be cleaning and she kicked me with her she had shoes on cuz I don't know what she was doing. I think she was about to leave today. and she was about to leave. So, she kicked me and it hit me really hard in the stomach cuz I was like this like and I had the book like this cuz I was like laying down reading the book and she kicked me in the stomach and I haven't ate all day so it really hurt. >> Do you have like markings on your stomach or burn or any type bruises or anything from it? >> I used to have a lot of bruises when I lived at my grandpa's. She pushed me on my back and I got this huge bruise on my knee and started bleeding. >> Okay. Okay. All right. Um, and then after so just after she pushed you into the wall, like you were standing in the corner, so she like she pushed you in there. Is that when you left? >> No. As soon as we got inside, I said that I didn't want to I said that I didn't want to be there. And I asked her if she would care and she said no. She didn't care. And then she said that as she said that she wouldn't care when if I left. So I walked straight out the door cuz she was watch started watching a movie while she was getting ready. >> Okay. >> To go somewhere. I don't know where. So it gave me it was very loud. So I gave me I locked the door. Then I walked out and I made I had to make a lot of decisions cuz I wasn't afraid that I would find anybody to drive me to my grandpa. And luckily I found her. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's a really good thing. Monica's really nice person. Um, so that that's that's a pretty nasty bump on the head. Um, I'd like to call a firefighter out here to like look at you just to make sure like you're okay, like you know, to see how bad that injury is. Would you be willing to like talk to them, have them come out? They bring like a cool fire truck and everything. Show up in uniform. That's cool. >> Um, >> my mom hits me a lot. >> Yeah. We used to live in a trailer because my mom couldn't afford a house. >> And the reason why I wanted to my grandpa is because he used to take care of these before. >> Okay. When did you said this happened? Right. Right before you left. So like 3 >> at 250. >> Okay. Okay. >> So I stayed there for a good 40 minutes crying. She said, "Holy shit." She was on the phone with somebody and then she's like, "Oh." And she yelled at me and she put the phone on mute cuz I could hear it. And it was like quiet for a minute. She said, "Shut up." And then I turned quiet. I was like sniffling. And she came out and then she pushed the head of the store to leave. >> Gotcha. Turned out we're going to go see Seattle Lights. We're going to go see Seattle Lights. And then she's like, "Oh no, we can't go cuz you're such a crybaby. You never listen to me." Even though I never did anything. cuz she wasn't back there. >> If she gets mad at you, don't raise it. She picks up reason to get mad at you. >> Sure. Yeah, it sounds horrible. I'm sorry. Um, let me, like I said, let me let me call somebody just to make sure you're okay cuz anytime you hurt your head, it it's it can be serious. So, we want to definitely, you know, make sure that you're okay. So, I'll call for that. Um, what's what's the name of your mom? >> Darla. Yeah. And she went to jail before like three other times. >> Yeah. >> For she broke the sign on the reservation. She went to jail because uh she said she went to a PTSD mode and she started hitting a sign. She went to jail before. >> Okay. >> So, I'm not sure if you like talk to her or something cuz she might get mad. >> Yeah, we'll talk to her for sure. >> But I'm afraid if I go back to her, she'll start hitting me again. >> Do you have like your grandpa's phone number or anything? >> I used to when I vlog. >> Okay. Do you know his name? We're just going to check out that that bump that you got in your forehead. Okay. >> Um I'm also going to stand in the corner. >> Um I wasn't standing kind of like my head was in the corner. You pushed my head on the corner. I had to hit the door part like the part and then my heading. >> Is that the only thing that's hurting you right now? Do you have any other right there. >> Is that from from the same thing or is that a different when we got there? Well, it's >> it is the same thing. >> We're going to we're going to take her to the station hang out with our staff over there and then >> we don't have enough bodies today. We go to Mary Bridge. >> Yeah. >> So, >> all right. I'll have CPS take her eventually. >> Yeah, we got it's warm. We got good people over there. So, >> you ever been been in a ride in a cop car? >> You can sit in the front seat. You want to >> Maybe we'll turn the lights on for you. >> They won't even put you in handcuffs. [laughter] >> They made me wear handcuffs. Yeah. Okay. So, that's the plan. We're going to take you to the station, okay? Where it's warm. >> We got a little nice game room and some snacks and stuff. Okay. All right. We got some We got some really nice people over there. All right. Okay. So, make sure you stay warm. Okay. Uh Okay. So, what you want to do is I can take her or I can knock on my door. Has anybody explained to you what's going to happen? >> Yeah. I kind of briefly told her we're going to take her to the station. Um, >> so CPS is going to be involved in court, right? >> We called somebody to come and help you out, right? Child Protective Services. Okay. They're going to come and they're just going to talk to you. They're going to Right now, we're going to take you to the police station and then they're going to meet you there. Okay. You're going to try to reach out to your mom to find out more what's going on. Um, but they can probably I gave you your your grandpa's information, so they're going to try to reach out to him as well, right? Get in there cuz that's where you want to go, right? Okay, cool. And then they told you you'll be riding in one of our cars. You got any questions for me? I know this this is a lot right now and there's a lot of people and a lot of lights and stuff. Um just trying to help you out as best make sure you're okay. >> Yeah. >> So, how you want to contact um after we drop off? Cuz she said that records can record and then we'll run out here. And >> you guys need your phone number. I know her phone number. >> Your mom's number. Oh, that would be great. >> Oh, yeah. What's up? >> Dude, you're the smartest. You talk to grown-ups all the time that don't know all this stuff. >> Doing great. >> All right. What's your mom's number? >> That's Darla, right? >> Mhm. >> Cool. Okay. Absolutely. Like I said, we're going to go uh take you down a police station. But everything that you did right now, super brave. Just saying. Like it's probably one of the brave bravest things that you're ever going to do in your whole life. And you just did it right now. So, okay. Now you just got to ride with the police officers. Okay. We'll run some lights every now and then. Chirp a siren. Scare some people. Sound good? >> In front of a cop car all the time. >> Fun. He let me play with my music. You can play he can play you whatever music you like. All right. Thank Yeah, you're good. Thank you so much. Cool. >> You said how did uh this happened? >> Um my knee was like this when she pushing me down and then um when I did that it like hit my stomach and also earlier that day when I woke up she kicked me in the stomach cuz I started reading a book and I fell asleep and she kicked me in the stomach. >> Okay, let's see. Is it okay if I use a flashlight? Yeah. Okay. Okay. Anywhere else that you think you might have any like marks or bruises or anything else that hurts? >> I think I showed the officer this one and the other one right here. [snorts] >> Can I see those, too? I just want to make sure we can take pictures of everything. Okay. >> And where are those from? >> I've been having these from last time. >> Okay. And see the side, too. Okay. And then you kind of have like a little mark on your nose. You know what that's from? >> No. >> No. Okay. Can I snap a photo of it? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Let's see here. >> All right. How about your cute little arms? Anything? >> I'll leave. I'll be out of here. >> Okay. Nothing. Can I check your back? Is that okay? And make sure if you've got an owie. You got such thick hair. Oh my goodness. Okay, I'm just gonna snap a photo. Okay. Okay. I'm just going to I know they already kind of look, but can you brush your pretty hair? There you go. >> Okay. Awesome. Sweetheart. Do you want to watch some YouTube? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Come on. Coincidentally, at 5:11 p.m., nearly 90 minutes later, the mother contacted police claiming her daughter had disappeared after taking out the trash. >> Yeah. I walked up to I walked down to the playground and up there. >> What's your name? >> Darla. >> Are you looking for >> Yes. >> Oh my gosh. Okay. Come on. William 12. We're getting flagged down by Darla. Oh my gosh. Got to be in front of building one. You're looking for for >> Yes. >> Okay. Oh my god. She's looking for you live right here. >> Thank you. >> Cell phone. Any ribbons on your door? >> No, I don't. Did you guys find my daughter? >> Come on. Come on. >> Did you guys find my daughter? >> We did. >> Where was she at? >> Hey, Darla. Right now, uh, at this time, you're under arrest for assault. >> For assault? We were I didn't do anything. We're trying to move our stuff and take garbage out. >> Yeah. There you go. Go ahead and have a seat. There you go. Go ahead and get your feet in. >> What happened to my daughter? >> Oh, she's with us. We got her. She's safe. where we were moving stuff. We took out the trash and we were trying to I asked my daughter to go look and see if there's any open available parking and she came in town and I told me no. Then she said she was going to go to her room. So I got up cuz we had a lot of stuff cuz the trash had piled up and every time we go to the door it gets in the way. So, we took it down there, came back up, and we're waiting for a spot to >> Does she get upset with you? Like, it sounds like sounds like there was definitely an argument that happened between you and her, and I'm trying to find out the extent of it. >> You know, >> the only thing that came up was about she wanted to go back home. >> Did you have to discipline her? >> No. >> Have you disciplined her before? >> Oh, no. >> I mean, she's she's an 8-year-old kid. Like, yeah, you have. >> She's 10 years old. >> Oh, I'm sorry. She's a 10-year-old kid. Like, yeah, you have. To say you haven't is is crazy, right? Every mother's disciplined their kid by the time they're 10 years old. >> She was riding around on her little We have Okay, I know it's kind of a mess down there cuz we were moving stuff. >> She was riding around her thing. She got her bike that we got from the vet center and I told her that this isn't the place to go. She was like, "I want to take a bike. I want to go down there, ride down there at my grandpa's." I was like, "We can't go down there. We have here." And when you find >> All right, let me ask you this. Okay. Why Why would we find, you know, markings on body? >> Because she's an active girl. She plays around. She tries sports. We were Okay. We were at a Christmas party. They were >> Hey, Darla. Darla. Darla, I'm going to I'm just going to hit pause real quick. I'm going to hit pause. Hold on. Hold on. >> Okay. >> I just Darla, just just pay attention to what I'm have to say. Okay. >> We're We're the police department. Okay. We we hold on. We've done a full investigation. We are still doing a very thorough investigation. Okay. And we're going to continue. So, I want to ask this. Okay. If we go in your apartment, okay, are we going to see evidence that was abused, hit, anything at all? >> Okay. Saturday or Friday, we went to a Christmas party. They were lifting her up. Uh my friend's daughter, Jen, tried to carry her. She fell back with li the other 9-year-old who was celebrated who had just celebrated her birthday was trying to carry and kept trying to lift her up. They kept falling back and she had fell a few times playing around with them Friday. >> Okay. She fell backwards. >> Yeah, she fell backwards. You could you could call my friend. You could call my friend. They'll verify it that they were playing around lifting her up. The 9-year-old said that she could carry her mom. He could carry her brother. So, she was lifting her up and she kept falling backwards. Maybe I can take her over. >> She kept falling backwards. Just li >> Well, let me ask you this. Okay, she's got a pretty pretty severe marks on the front of her. Okay, we go into your apartment and we start looking at those walls in there. Are we going to find evidence that her face was on those walls? >> What do you mean? Like, >> did did you hurt her? >> No. >> Okay. Have you disciplined her recently? Okay. You're allowed to discipline your child. We're just trying to find out the extent of it to find out whether or not it's something that we need to be involved in more seriously and escalate this real high up or whether or not we can just have a plain conversation with it. >> She's been Okay, when we were at that party, I had her wear a mask cuz she's like been really sick. When she gets cranky, she like like at that party like I told her >> just let's let's talk about today. Okay, she's got marks from today. Tell me how she got those marks today. >> I don't know that I don't know what she fell. I know she was playing with her friends and kept goofing around when on Friday. And today we were moving around the stuff cuz we went to the storage. We climbed into my storage looking for her her mouth, all the different stuff. >> Is she going to have any any margins from maybe shoes or anything? Have you have you kicked her or nudged her with your feet at all? Pushed her with your feet? >> No. My I was walking around with flip flops and then after I had called, I changed to my shoes. >> Okay. Is she going to have any evidence at all? We're talking like fingerprints on her face. We're talking any type of footprints on her body. >> Are we going to find those? >> No. Okay. I I meant I've brushed her hair. I put Vicks. I gave I sprayed cough drop into her mouth. >> I've >> When you last saw her, did she have any marks on her face? >> She had a bump from when she fell at the party. >> Where was the bump? >> Um on her head cuz she had fell forward and fell backwards. Cuz one of them when the 9-year-old tried to lift up her mom, she said she could pick up. You just said she just fell backwards. Now she fell forwards, too. >> Darla, can you breathe? >> I've been walking around. >> Okay. You having trouble breathing right now? >> I have a brain energy and when the bird gets too high, I start getting my head. I fell before I fell at work and I hit my head. >> Okay. How long ago was that? >> Uh, in September. So, they've had me on Is there any issue? Why is there anything that you have any medical issues that's preventing you from breathing right now? >> Asthma. >> You have asthma? Okay. All right. My mouth is really dry cuz I just been walking around looking for her. I walked around the building. >> Okay. All right. Hang tight, darling. >> The mother was arrested and charged with assault of a child in the third degree, but she remains innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.