GULFPORT, Fla. — A woman is being charged with child abuse after police said she left a toddler in a car alone and then fled from an officer when he tried to confront her.
According to police, Micela Bonds parked her car in a handicap spot without a placard, over the weekend, and left a two-year-old in the car, while she shopped at Dollar General. Officer Michael Rossi went into the store to find Bonds.
“I guess she snuck out while he was in there and took off and then he said, “hey, wait a minute. You need to stop,'” Chief of Police for the Gulfport Police Department, Robert Vincent, said.
Vincent said Bonds didn’t stop.
“He’s yelling at her, trying to get her to stop and then she jumps in the car and takes off so he tries to make a traffic stop,” Vincent said.
Vincent said dash cam video from Officer Rossi’s unit captured Bonds' car driving fast through a neighborhood, trying to get away. Vincent said the child was in the car without a car seat and was not using a seat belt.
Detectives later arrested Bonds and said she was driving with a suspended license because she had not paid traffic fines.
ABC Action News called Bonds Tuesday afternoon. She hung up the phone and then called back stating she was not going to comment.
“That’s why she’s being charged with the crime she is. I mean I think most people, who saw a kid sitting in a car alone, while the parent or guardian is inside shopping would have the same opinion. It’s just not right,” Vincent said.
Bonds is charged with child abuse, fleeing or eluding police officer, and driving while license suspended first offense. She has already bonded out of jail.
