GREENFIELD — A woman was arrested this week amid allegations she strangled a child while they were eating together at a Greenfield restaurant.
Valeria L. Brown, 57, 247 G St., Wilkinson, was booked into the Hancock County Jail on Monday and now faces two felony counts, records show.
A child told police she was eating at a restaurant with Brown when the woman became violent, grabbing the girl around the neck and yelling at her, according to court documents.
The girl immediately called a relative asking to be picked up from the restaurant. The relative then called 911.
Brown admitted she laid a hand on the girl, but said she did it to discipline the child for bad behavior.
The police officer who came to the restaurant to investigate told Brown “this is an unacceptable way to discipline a child or anyone else for that matter,” court documents state.
Brown faces one Level 6 felony count of strangulation and one Level 6 felony count of battery on a person less than 14 years of age.
Each charge carries a penalty range of six months to 2½ years in jail.
The child told police she was with Brown on Tuesday afternoon at a restaurant along State Street in Greenfield.
The girl said she and Brown were having a good time, laughing and joking; but then Brown became angry at a comment the girl made, she told police.
The girl said Brown “began yelling, screaming and cussing at her,” court documents state. The woman grabbed the girl by the upper arm, and then placed both her hands around the child’s neck and “began squeezing,” court documents state.
The girl said she had a hard time breathing while Brown’s hands were around her throat, court document state. It lasted for about 30 seconds, the girl said.
Police found red marks at the base of the girl’s neck and on her upper left shoulder, court documents state.
Brown spoke with police as part of the investigation.
She admitted to grabbing the girl by her neck, and said she did so because the girl had made a rude remark, court documents state.
Brown reportedly told police the girl “deserved what she got and that she doesn’t need to be talking … the way she did,” according to officials.
Police say Brown was angry that officers became involved with the incident. She said the child was “making a big deal out of this” and that, as the adult in the situation, Brown “should be able to deal with her the way she wants to.”
Brown remained in the Hancock County Jail at press time.