Suspect surrenders in videotaped beating of NJ mom

SALEM, N.J. - Police in southern New Jersey say the woman wanted in the videotaped beating of a mother in front of her child has surrendered.

Salem Police Chief John Pelura III says 25-year-old Latia Harris turned herself in on Monday. She's being held on $35,000 bail and is charged with aggravated assault and making terroristic threats.

"I believe Harris had no other choice than to turn herself in under her own terms as it would only be a matter of time before she was captured," Pelura said, according to CBS New York.

Police have been searching for Harris after the videotape surfaced in which authorities say she pummeled 27-year-old Catherine Ferreira in the face and kicked her in the back along a trail in Salem last Tuesday.

Several people watched as Harris, who was dressed in a McDonald's uniform, also threatened to attack Ferreira's 2-year-old son, who yelled and kicked the suspect's legs in a futile effort to stop the attack.

Police obtained the video before it was removed from Facebook.

Ferreira reportedly told police that Harris accused her of spreading rumors about her and her manager at McDonald's.

"I could have been dead right now had she hit me in the right spot. It would have been over, over nothing," Ferreira told CBS Philly.

She went on to say that the incident brought her and her son closer.

"He wasn't afraid, he just wanted to defend his mom. That's my world right there, I love that boy so much," she said.

McDonald's owner Jim Burglaga released a statement regarding the incident saying he was "extremely disturbed" and that "it goes against the values and standards that I expect from my employees in my restaurants."

"This employee will not be serving customers pending this important police investigation and I'm fully cooperating with the local police in this matter," Burglaga continued.