He punched you? Two or three times. I never hit my daughters in my life. She blocked the door so we didn't get out. She scratches us, too. I think she's going to beat the crap out of him when we leave. >> Yeah. For talking to police. And those scratches on your chest are from her as well? Yeah, I have a necklace that She broke. >> On October 5th, 2023, officers and CPS responded to a residence following ongoing reports of a family dispute involving a mother and the father of her children. Investigators learned that during a domestic dispute, the mother allegedly pushed and kicked the father down a staircase, scratched his chest, and attempted to intervene with her children contacting the police. All right, are you ready facts? I am. How are you doing today? Today. >> Yeah, oh, I agree. Are you the one that made the call? Yes. >> Okay. Um, so we had an open case with this family already. I'm the case manager for that one as well. Mhm. Then we got another case yesterday because law enforcement was called out. There were some concerns of domestic violence Mhm. in the home. Are they in mom's address or dad's address? Dad's address. Okay. Mom says she's not Reason I called you today was because children have bruises on them. They disclosed it was from mom. Okay. They They didn't show the officer last night. Okay. Mom was arrested last night. I believe but I guess she was given like a summons or >> or principal summons? What was she arrested for? I want to say family violence. Well, she wouldn't be given a summons summons for What's mom's name? Um, I'm unsure. Mom's name is Heidi, h e i d i. All right, let's go look her up on that. So, this is the third report and you're making this report because you've seen bruises? >> Yes. Like, are we talking cruelty to children level? I can show you. Okay. I mean, they got a decent looking house. Well, dad just went to the school to go pick up the Chromebook for the child and they are back and forth between another house as well. So, this is the one on the younger child's leg. Okay. That's the one on the older child's leg. >> What's up with the neck discoloration? >> it's just Are they saying how it happened? Yes, so they're saying that during the incident mom and dad were fighting. They said that mom has a lot of drinking problems and that was the concern for the last case as well. The older child was calling 911 and mom had got on top of her and kicked her and was trying to um Thirteen, let me get you started Isaac. She also said that mom had punched her stomach but there's not a bruise on her stomach. Victoria is the 11-year-old? Yes. So it said um 11-year-old Victoria stated she had been the one who called police because her mother had thrown water in the stairway and pushed dad downstairs. She stated she was speaking to police her mother forcibly hung up her 911 call and she did not want her speaking with police. Mhm. So both the kids are saying she pushed dad down the stairs last night. So that's what she got arrested for last night is cuz she hung up her daughter's 911 call. Okay. But I want to go in there and talk to her cuz if the kids are saying she's the one hitting them I can charge her. I'm Ms. Saidy. How are you? I'm Officer Hernandez. Hernandez, how are you? I'm doing well. Um can you tell me a little bit about what's going on today? It was not today, it was yesterday. Well, we're out here today cuz your kids have bruises on them. Oh, that guy I just gave it to her. When I left that house the police sprayed me cuz my daughter, my youngest daughter, called 911 cuz they were playing soccer so like this Mhm. I saw them three outside playing after I came from church. >> Mhm. I have fed my dogs at 5:00. When I picked them up it was 5:00 cuz that's my what I Um So I can't and I stopped him at 7:00 because my daughter stopped at 8:00 but he got mad. He went upstairs. There was no water. You mentioned that to me and I remember us that we're going down. That's why he's limping. Now I understand why. So you said there was no water? >> When I went up there until I came back with the cops, with the officers last night. So my daughter called 911 because he He punched you? Two or three times. Okay. So I screamed. And so my daughter came upstairs. There was no water still. And the And the stairs >> And you told the officers this last night? Look, I told him why you're arresting me. I'm tucked in. Like I'm in bed. I'm minding my business sleeping. Why were you want to arrest me? Well, your daughter called 911. So I got a citation for 911, whatever. That's what I got. Mhm. But they realized I'm not under the influence. I'm pretty sure, 100% cuz I was not. But I'm saying I I told him that he did punch me, but it was a bump. Mhm. You can still feel it and it just Mhm. And but they didn't believe me because it didn't escalate it. Like right now like I didn't That Yeah, that's sad. But if you talk to Sergeant Hoover, she already made a report of all this. Sergeant Hoover, why is Sergeant Hoover involved? Because the school police some She's the social worker. I never told her this stuff. So I was a bunch of bruises and I I've never um never told anybody but the principal. I saw him at the school when I supposed to pick him up. So I got scared. So I went to talk to the principal and the principal saw all my bruises. So the principal called up school police. The police came here. But why is Sergeant Hoover involved? I'm not >> Because that's school school police and they came here and they referred me to speak with her. Oh, to anybody. Sergeant Hoover is crimes. That is why I'm asking this. So Miss >> Sergeant Hoover is not >> The reason why Sergeant No, yeah, because he does 19 dispatch. Yes. That's why. Sergeant Hoover >> anything. >> cuz she doesn't know what she's talking about. >> Okay, investigated child I already know. So, you can explain it to her as well. All these reports are public information. I can go back to my car and read all of them if you don't want to tell me. That's okay. Um He He puts creeps in my And you haven't He hasn't been charged with any of this? All right, 19-19 What's going on with the kids with the bruises on their faces and stuff? I've got a black male those two black males walking down those avenues towards 42nd Street. I don't want to So, no. Another party called advised the phone was If there was water after when we left and the car stopped, water like I don't know what the police report will say, but if they slipped from the stairs, I wasn't here. I was already arrested. Okay. So, I don't know like you said the arm, the legs, I don't know. I have no idea. I I never hit my daughters in my life. You don't have any idea how they got the bruises? No, I was already I tell you no, of course not. She She mentioned to me that it was from them playing soccer. Oh, yeah, the the ball like yeah, it it the playing soccer at the Mondays or I want to say Saturday soccer play a ball hit her face. I don't know about the you said the legs, I have no idea. What's the father's name? Cesar He's been uh charged with open container before as well. He got pulled over right there with an open container. Is it not the same as your last name? No, we're not Okay. We have kids. I don't know what it's called. You just have kids together? The attorney calls it something else. Yeah, we're fighting in court. I'm going to make a couple phone calls and I'll be right back if that's okay with you. Okay, thank you. I didn't sign that. I mean, with the safety plan that you told me you didn't read Are you in 40-19? Yeah, that I signed something I shouldn't have. I didn't I'm just saying that you have to when law enforcement or whoever gives you documents when you sign you have to read this stuff, okay? I understand, but I block it Like I don't want to read it cuz it's negative stuff that doesn't apply. It's It's We're all trying to help you and your family. And like I said, keep the children safe. That's my goal here with the children. And And And that's why I She doesn't know. I have Look, this is custody battle. Um it's California or or Columbus, Georgia. Los Angeles County or Muscogee County? It's hard. >> Do you want to go inside with me and speak with the children? Yeah. Hey, guys. How are we doing? Yeah, so last night we were going to How was that trip? Well, she was going to come to us and she Um she went to And And no, have a canine working. I don't know right now. She was trying to get to her many screaming and Daddy was cooking food. You got children out here. Go to the police station, please. She was upset. Therefore us and then we said if we don't be quiet, then we're going to call the police. Join the house on 6. We were upstairs in our room. She blocked the door so we didn't get out cuz we didn't want to call right in front of her. So So you guys blocked the door so she could She blocked the door. Okay. And then um she pushed the toilet to the floor and then she pushed me to the floor. She tried to take the phone and then when she was like on top of where we where we were, she like she got off and then we rushed downstairs. She put like water like beer smell like beer on the stairs and she made it slippery. Um once we were coming down, my dad was going to come with us and then we were going to call and talk to you guys, but then um it was slippery so she She pushed my dad on the back of the And you saw this happen? Where were you at? Were you still upstairs or were you downstairs? Uh we were like all coming downstairs at the same time. So I was beside him and then I tried to like tell her to stop. Like I was in between so she didn't push it any more. Could you tell her a little bit about how you got the bruise on your leg? Oh, so Oh, yeah. When she put me on the toilet, she got me on guy strolls strolls up to She pulled your hair? I'm already on the phone security with him. She pulled me. It's right here. She ended up hurting her but um Does mom tell you not to say things to the police or does she try to say anything like that? What does she tell you when all this stuff is happening and She just screams. She doesn't listen to anything. She doesn't want to talk. She just needs to calm down. It makes sense. So, like today, has she said anything to you guys today about yesterday? She just came back. So, dad's been with them all day? Does mom live here at this house? Sometimes. And you have a bruise on your face. Oh, you have a bruise on Okay, got you. How did you get that? The last time the police came and she called, she hit me with the door cuz she didn't want me to go She didn't want me to go where I'm saying. Just try to close the door and she slammed the door. And it happened to hit your face? Right. Does mom get like this a lot? Do you usually live with mom or dad? With mom? >> Yeah. So, I'm I'm guessing this isn't the first time that something like this has happened that's left bruises or anything. Does mom pop you, hit you, spank you? Like Sorry, you're my demonstration. Oh, yeah. She does? She does not stop hitting hard. Well, I'm not going to hit her hard. >> [laughter] >> She's my friend. She scratches us, too. She scratches you? Especially my dad. He has like a bad He has a scratch like It's like he makes you like three fingers scratch. Did you talk to the um officers that came last night? Mhm. Okay. Did they see dad's scratch and stuff last night? >> It was kind of red but it wasn't like Yeah. >> that as it looks now. What happened to mom's face? She hit herself. Okay. Yeah. On this metal part or on this wood part right here? On the other side? Right here? Did they mop the floor? Did your dad mop the floor? All right. I think she's playing victim. Um if Hoover has a Sergeant Hoover, I don't know if you've met her. I have. She is um like an amazing amazing detective. Like nobody will ever speak badly about the job she does cuz she just does such an amazing job. Um Right. Right. Cuz that's why she was talking about that like she's oh she came out and I'm like Hoover I'm I think she is could possibly be an alcoholic and she's playing victim on this and she is becoming a victim. Now, have you talked to the dad? No, I think she's going to beat the crap out of them when we leave. For talking to police. Have you told them to record with their cell phones when stuff like this happens? Okay. Next time that stuff like this happens, maybe put your iPad up and try to record what's going on so maybe we can help a little bit better. I have recorded You have recorded? Can I see your recording? Or is it Does mom know you have the recording? She was normal and she put beer in that cup. Oh, okay. Have you tried to record when stuff like this is happening? Yeah. And if I could give us a name for her. Who usually comes when she's drunk? Sometimes we call the police just to tell Is that your dad? Yeah. What happened to dad's eye? That's when her brother beat him up. Okay. Can you turn the volume back on? At the time that she told him Like police officer told my dad that she told her brother to beat him up. What color truck does dad drive? Uh he doesn't drive a truck. Does he have a work truck? No? Okay. >> What's What color is the truck that's outside of that house? The other house? Uh black. That's Black? Okay. >> is it? My uncle. So that's your uncle that hit hit your dad's truck? Okay. Yeah. The one time she was picking up her kids She had that in her seat? Yeah, underneath her seat. Hey. No, you're good. You're good. So dad, this has been going on for a while now? >> Yeah. I actually have the officers that were arresting her here Saturday. They gave me their information Villanueva, I think was one of them. Anzola? Anzola? Okay, then that was a different one. I read it wrong. Or Milheiser or something like that? Okay. I don't know him. Why don't you tell them really what happened? You didn't want her to get in trouble. Um Yeah. Because I can see the scratches on your chest and you're um walking all funny and the I thought she pushed me, but Rebecca said that she When I was in the the third step coming down, she I guess she kicked me and I I when I fell, I landed on my leg backwards and it's not swollen, but it it hurts. And the scratches on your chest are from her as well? Yeah, I have a necklace that She broke. >> She I don't know where she put it at, but yeah, she did put it on my Have you thought about getting a TPO, temporary protective order? Um So she can't come over here anymore. Whose house is this? It's under both our names. Both of you guys? It doesn't matter for a TPO if the primary aggressor is identified. Mhm. Okay. The thing is, I kind of need her for them to take the school pick up. That's all But if she's If she's drinking and driving and she's taking your kids to school while she's intoxicated, what happens if she runs off the road? If she hits a vehicle head-on? I thought about it. That's putting them at serious risk and I understand that it's difficult, but I mean, I feel like it would almost be better in the short sense to call a neighbor or get a little nanny. >> a brother who Who gave you a black eye? Yeah, but she Yeah, he did, but we had an agreement that stay over there for a few days, you know, and cool off and come back, but Why does she keep coming back? Are you guys in a relationship? Yeah. Okay. >> We've been together for 24 years. So y'all are on and off. So what happened with the court date? Who has primary custody? I do. You have primary custody? Okay. Um I mean, to be honest with you, I hate doing this cuz it's it feels like it's snowballing. They don't reside in my town. He uses address for the schools. >> Okay. But they reside here? Yeah. Does Ms. Lane and his reside here? She does when she's good. When she's not, I'll tell her to go to her brother's house, but then he gets tired of her, closes the doors on her, and then she's got nowhere to go, so So because you have I'm I'm going to be honest with you. You know, I'm with the Department of Family and Children Services. I'm here to make sure that the children are safe. I care about you guys. it's important that you guys are okay. are all okay. I think the children are not okay. And as of right now, neither one of you guys are showing protective capacity of keeping these children safe. In the state of Georgia, it's illegal for children to be exposed to domestic violence, even just hearing it can cause damage on the children. >> She's the one that does all the hitting. Right, but you guys are parents. Y'all are in a relationship, on and off, however the case may be. I understand that she's the mother of your children, but you guys both are lacking in that parental capacity to keep the children safe when you're together. It seems to be when the problems occur, and that's what's keeping the children unsafe. Okay? Yeah, I understand that, but I mean, we go go from one room to another to to close off, or you know, she'll just leave us alone for a few minutes, or sometimes we're lucky to 2 hours, and then it just escalates and Have you spoken to a domestic violence counselor? No. Okay. I'm going to give you a pamphlet to who to contact. You are a victim of domestic violence, right? Just like if if you were a woman being beat up by a man, it doesn't matter that you can overpower her and you're deciding not to because you're a man and she is a woman, she still doesn't have the right to do that to you. I can't walk up to my husband and beat the crap out of him and him be like, "Well, I don't want to hit a woman," which seems to be what's happening, right? >> don't want the kids to see any of that. Right, but you are a victim in this and you need help. You need counseling cuz it messes up your brain, just like it's messing up their brain, okay? When she says domestic violence hurts these children, that's what she means, and it seems to be physically hurting them as well now. Your daughter has a bruise on her face. Yeah, that's from yesterday. You know, is aggressive with me. She's never physically harmed them. You know, she's yelled at them and screamed at them, threatened to break the TVs, iPads, and stuff, but Well, your daughter has a bruise on her face. I didn't see it because when she She's saying it's from the door, so she was trying to stop the girls from talking to the police last night and the door hit her in the face. That's your That's her physically hurting the children. Yeah, I mean like I said, they told me about it once she was she was gone and I wish I would have seen her, but I was outside trying to cool off in the car and I didn't see anything. >> Elena get the marks on her eye? I have no idea. I didn't even know that she had marks on her eyes. Okay. You have my phone number. Yes. Um I'll be reaching out to you probably sometime tomorrow. This is a how to get a TPO. Did any of the officers go over this with you? Uh Miss Richard Contacting Hope Harbor or anything like that? >> They pretty much just took her because she was being an nuisance to the neighbors. >> She's intoxicated. And this is about domestic violence and some places that can help you. This this on again, off again thing's got to stop. I know. That's why I just can't wait just to get custody and put back home you know because I got nobody here. Listen, you get on Facebook, get some babysitter groups, you know, hire a babysitter to take them to and from school. Hey there's going to be 100 and 50,000 I have a church family, but you know, I don't want to tell them my business, you know. My pastor knows what's going on. >> They don't need to know nothing. Just say you need a person to take them to and from school. Yeah, because it's That's all you need. I'm going to be back with you in a minute cuz I'm going to call my sergeant about what happened last night and see if he wants me to make another report. And if he does, I'll give you another report number, okay? I don't want to do that. You don't have a choice. It's like family violence in the state of Georgia. They should have arrested her last night for battery family violence for hurting you. They should have arrested her for cruelty to children in the second times two. But I'll be right back with you on that. It's just what was done last night wasn't handled properly. All right, Miss Richard. I did go ahead and write us up another safety plan. We're going to read it together with you. And this box checked here is that the alleged maltreater, which would be you Miss Ohness, agrees to leave the home either voluntarily or through legal action, which we verbally agreed to before I stepped to my car to write this up. >> Yeah, I need to go do my step and do a stay away order I can do. So, with that saying that I can't sign that because I'm the one >> sign it? I'm I'm I'll tell you why. Well, don't misunderstand. I'm the one that travels to school in the morning, and I'm the one that So, you no longer agree to the safety plan? Who's going to pick him up and who's going to Well, this is the same thing with the >> 15 and 20 Well, I'm just saying, remember you told me to read this statement I'm reading. Yes, ma'am. So, >> But, this is the same thing that we just verbally agreed on before I walked It's not that I'm not going to take my daughters to school. You have to address that. I'm I'm still going to pick up my daughters to school and drop them off, because otherwise I'll be arrested for violating your Well, you won't be arrested for violating this. This is a civil issue. This is a civil Oh. You won't be arrested for violating this. >> issues. That's nothing for me to do. >> So, you're refusing the safety plan that we wrote up? If only if you could address what I just said. And and >> Yes. You're refusing. I'm not changing the safety plan. Then I could take my daughters to school and No, ma'am. So, then I don't understand. So, I'm I'm saying I'm I If we you could have only addressed that, cuz I don't want to get in trouble. That I'm with them, you know, I think cuz there's no one else that would take them to school and bring them to school. That's the only reason I'm refusing. All right. All right, let's all gather up real quick. All right. Miss Heidi, if you can go ahead and put that stuff down and put your hands behind your back, you're being arrested right now for battery family violence and cruelty to children in the second times two. Go ahead and put your hands behind your back, please. Go ahead and put your hands behind your back. >> Um why am I being arrested? For putting your hands on your boyfriend husband last night. >> not. He put a hand on him. I don't I have two witness statements saying what happened, and that you fell down the stairs. I did not fall. And I've got I've got him to say that you pushed him down the stairs, and the kids saying that you kicked him down the stairs. No. And that you scratched his chest. So, right now you're being arrested for battery family violence and cruelty to children in the second times two. All right, so let's go ahead and walk to my car. I'll get I'll come back and get your stuff. You're not going to take my Take my daughters to school. You're not going I'm going to read you your rights, and then I'm going to take your statement. >> Mhm. But, he pushed me? I didn't fall on the stairs. I got that Oops, I got that statement already. It ain't going nowhere. >> why my daughter came and gave me a kiss? Yeah, she's not coming out here seeing you like this, no, ma'am. No, no, she did already. She gave me a kiss. All right, get in. Okay, put your knees in. How was she acting? Was she real angry? Oh, yeah. I think she's got anger issues cuz she was gone for 2 hours. Supposedly she went to church and then I don't understand she went to church but then you come back and you know what I mean. She said that there's all beer cans with lipstick on them. She was wearing lipstick. She just got like crazy, you know, it's because we're going through this custody thing. Like I tell her you want to fight it the wrong way, you know, you want to fight all the time, you know. Did she have any verbal threats to you? No. Did was there any property damage? No, she she took my necklace which I don't I didn't look for it. Has she ever threatened to kill your children? No. Do you think she might leave you? Uh, her brother might. But her? I guess, I mean Does she ever threaten to kill you or your children? No. Has she ever tried to choke you? No. Is she unemployed? >> Right now she's unemployed but for the same reason that she had a domestic charge on her. Uh-huh. And I'm not trying to ruin her life. I just want to get my girls and leave. So, I had the charges dropped so she can get a job. She had a job. I guess it showed up in her records that she had a some similar >> It'll It'll show that it just was dropped. But she did lose her job for that. Has she ever tried to kill herself? No. Okay, so it's just your right knee and the three scrapes and then that was from her brother. Yeah, that was too. Did you see her fall down? No. Well, I'm going to go ahead and arrest her for battery family violence and cruelty to children in the second times two for both children. Can you tell her I didn't want to do this to her? Sure. Sure, I can do that. All right, I'm going to read you your Miranda rights. Are you willing to answer questions without an attorney present? >> Right now? Uh-huh. Are you willing to answer questions without an attorney present? >> Would that take me out of jail if I >> being arrested. For what reason? Battery family violence and cruelty to children in the in the second for both children. I never hit them. No, you just kicked them down the stairs. >> No, I did not. He's right there. That's okay. Under court of law, I never pushed my You go and tell my little one to give me a kiss. I've never hurt my daughters in my any way, shape, or form. Have you been drinking today? Uh no, I have not been drinking today. >> Okay. Uh but I I I could tell I could tell you after I left after the officer arrested me and this like they let me go 911 whatever at 12:00 or whatever time it was, I had one beer. Okay. That was at 9:00 this morning? No, last night uh before he left me right after 911 uh This happened at like 10:00 last night. >> Uh-huh. So, yeah. So, he drove and he let me go right at the in front of the police station. I like it right on the back and he drove me and behind for So, why are your children saying that you kicked their father down the stairs? He says my witness I didn't. He's telling me that you pushed him down the stairs and the girls are saying he kicked you. So, he couldn't have seen you kick him. He just thought you pushed him and the girls let him know that you kicked him down the stairs. The you took photo of me. He I never intend He's already telling me he doesn't want to press charges. He doesn't have a choice right now. In the state of Georgia, we have the family violence act. The state will press charges. >> Yeah, I know, but I never did nothing to harm anybody. >> Okay, well, I've got him telling me you did and I've got two girls I've got two girls telling me I understand, but I I promise on God's loving care that he has for all of us, I've never hurt anybody. Like straight I'm not Okay. No worries. The woman was arrested for battery, family violence, and two counts of cruelty in the second degree.