Woman Flees Cops With Kid In Hand
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - A Broward women who police claim ran from them with her 5-year-old child in her arms as they tried to question her about shoplifting was ordered held without bond Wednesday when she appeared before a Miami-Dade judge.
"The level of negligence or violence, foolishness; I can't find words to describe your alleged behavior," said Miami-Dade judge John Hurley when 23-year-old Deanna Headley appeared before him. He ordered her not to have any contact with her child, and warned her she faced life in prison if convicted.
Headley is charged with robbery, assault, child cruelty and attempting/committing a felony which could have caused death.
Police said Headley and her sister were in a Hallandale Beach Walmart Tuesday when they allegedly attempted to steal several DVDs. Her child was with her in the store. They were spotted by a loss prevention person who followed Headley outside, but when he tried to approach her, she reportedly took off on foot.
Holding her child like a football, according to the arrest report, Headley ran across six lanes of traffic as drivers swerved so they wouldn't hit her. With the loss prevention person on her heels, she then ran to a nearby apartment complex and climbed up on the roof – still holding her child.
The loss prevention officer reportedly then backed off his pursuit because he was afraid she or the child was going to fall off the roof, where there was no railing. When Headley finally came down, she allegedly hit the loss prevention officer, ran toward the Intracoastal Waterway and dove in – still holding her child.
It was then that Headley reportedly yelled out that she couldn't swim but refused to hand over the child. Working together Broward Sheriff's deputies and loss prevention officers from the store finally got Headley out of the water.
Headley was taken into custody and her child was turned over to the Department of Children and Families.
Following her bond court appearance, Headley cried as her daughter';s future was discussed in a dependency hearing before Judge Susan Lebow. Headley's aunt, who declined to give her name, wanted Headley's daughter placed with family.
"I want her to come to my house, but we'll see if that can happen," she said.
It didn't happen, because Judge Lebow said she had a 2007 neglect charge in her record. The child's grandmother can't take it, because she's currently in prison. Lebow ordered a home study done on the child's great-grandmother, but until that's completed, she said the child will stay in state custody.
"The department believes that the young child in this case is in imminent danger, and we will do everything in our power to shelter and protect her immediately," said DCF spokesman Mark Riordan.
Neighbors showed up in court to vouch for Headley, calling her a good mom but admitting she has a drug problem.
"I think she's struggling with her addiction," said Kenneth Thompson. "It happened for the best. She needed a rest, she needed a break to get her thoughts together and rehabilitate herself,"
His girlfriend, Sara Lungo, had a hard time understanding her behavior.
"She could have left the baby with us because we live right next door," she said. "We watched the baby a lot, and she has good family too, so it's crazy that this happened."
Headley had nothing to say in court, and her only comment to CBS4's Tiffani Helberg as she left court was, "Get out of my face."
Headley has a court appearance set for July 14th,
