Cops: Woman hanged 1-year-old at day care, fled in car

MINNEAPOLIS – Police say a woman is in custody after she allegedly hanged a 1-year-old who was in her care at a Minneapolis day care and struck two people while fleeing Friday morning.

Minneapolis Assistant Chief of Police Kris Arneson told reporters Friday that a parent dropping off their child at the day care center “rescued” the child and called 911 at about 9:45 am. The child, a 16-month-old boy, is hospitalized but doing “fine.”

Arneson said the suspect fled the scene in a minivan, struck a male pedestrian and dragged him several blocks. The pedestrian is expected to survive. The suspect then allegedly hit a bicyclist, also expected to survive, and was later found threatening to jump off an overpass along Interstate 94. Arneson said the woman had to be restrained by a passersby and police when they arrived on the scene.

The woman was taken into custody and Arneson said she is currently being evaluated at the hospital.

Arneson said the day care center was licensed and that “a handful” of children under six years old were at the facility Friday morning.