Posted on 09/19/2002 1:21:20 PM PDT by TomB
The Mishawaka Police Department recently received a surveillance video taken from Kohl's Department Store on Grape Road in Mishawaka. The video shows a young girl, approximately four-years-old, apparently being severely beaten. Police are asking for the public's help in tracking down the woman and young girl. They say they are very worried about the girl's safety and believe she needs to get medical attention immediately.
Police say the two women caught the attention of security personnel at Kohl's. Detective Chief Mike Samp of the Mishawaka Police Department reports, "They had some items that they took into Kohl's to try to receive monies for and for whatever reason they were refused. They exchanged and they were asked to leave the store." The cameras followed them to the car and caught the incident on tape.
The assault
The girl, who police believe is just four-years-old, got into the car. Her mother looked around and then for some unknown reason the assault began. According to officials, the little girl received at least five initial blows before the she was hit and shaken several more times. At one point during the assault the woman grabbed the child by her hair. Once in her car seat, she was punched in the face more than a dozen times. The assault lasts just over 25 seconds.
Immediate concern is for child's safety
"Oh my God!" That was the response of Dr. Arnold Del Pilar of the Ironwood Medical Center upon reviewing the surveillance tape. "Punching her?I mean, [this is] blunt head trauma. This child needs to be medically evaluated," he stated. Dr. Del Pilar consulted with police and police agree with his statement. That is why police are asking for the public's help. Deputy Prosecutor of St. Joseph County, Maggie Jones stated, "Our immediate concern, as Chief Samp has stated, is to locate the child and to get the child out of that environment. It made me sick to think that that child is still with that mother and, quite frankly, if that mother is willing to do that in a parking lot, what is she doing at home?"
Family is "less than helpful"
The video camera was able to get a picture of the Texas license plate on the white SUV. Police found the car and talked to family members, but they called the family less than helpful. Chief Samp reported, "We spoke with family members. They have indicated to us that the suspect and the victim have left the state." However, police believe the woman and her daughter may still be in the area and are searching for the little girl to make sure she is okay. Police describe the family as mobile and not cooperative. They are not releasing a name at the time because they do not know if the name they have been given is correct.
The mother's description is as follows:
* Blond hair
* 5' 6" or 7"
* 135 pounds
* 24 or 25 years old
Anyone with any information on their whereabouts is asked to call the Mishawaka Police Department at 258-1684 or you may also contact them via email at Police@Mishawakacity.com.
I have seen many sick things in my life, but that is right up there. I got physically ill watching it. I pray to God in Heaven that they find that lovely little girl and find her safe.
Sacco and Vanzetti applaud your words. Tyrants everywhere salivate at the prospect of people not caring about the fate of total strangers.
The moral-liberal anarcho-ideologues just shrugged. They really ought to pretend for a moment that the mom was assaulting the 4 year old child for smoking cigarettes, or shooting heroin, or watching pornography. Then they'll cry for justice.
That poor little girl. I hope she's still alive and functional.
And the woman's family needs to be horse-whipped if they're covering up for that bitch of a "mother".
Assaulting a four year old child is everyone's business. Your statement really just invites a much closer scrutiny into what type of person you are.
Slowly.
The family who won't cooperate? They should be locked up until they talk. Interferring with a criminal investigation, accessory after the fact..I'm sure there's a law to use to force them to give up this monster.
Can you believe this callous remark?
Oh get real. These stores couldn't care less about your vehicle. They just want to be able to have a better shot at catching shoplifters.
No. It's really the little girl's "mother." It'd be ghastly enough otherwise, but this is about as bad as it gets.
Let me guess: the Constitution and the Bill of Rights give you the RIGHT to beat your wife/child anywhere and any time you want to, right?
They can't find her, though they did find the car. Her family is not cooperating -- said she and the child "left the state."
Sounds like a swell group of folks. Maybe they'll change their minds after they've seen the video.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.