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Mom bails out of California jail after baby slapping video

Posted at 1:56 AM, Dec 01, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-01 07:59:15-05

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- The mother of a six-month old San Diego baby, seen in a viral video being repeatedly slapped on the head, made bail Thursday night. Earlier in the day, she told San Diego-based KGTV it was not her slapping the baby in the video.

RELATED: Facebook video purporting to show baby abuse prompts San Diego police investigation

Jowi Morales, 18, texted with KGTV reporter Travis Rice via Facebook before police arrested her Thursday afternoon.

Rice asked Morales how the baby is. She wrote the baby was “fine as far as I'm concerned.”

Morales wrote that the baby was safe and  “People are sending me threats.” At the time, police were trying to locate Morales and the baby.

Rice urged Morales to turn herself in. Morales wrote, “and arrest me? I’d rather not go to jail.”

She said the video was taken four weeks ago.

Rice asked Morales if it was her hitting the baby in the video.

She replied, “Nope.”

When Rice asked who hit the baby, Morales sent a thumbs-up emoji and quit responding.

Morales was arrested on an outstanding domestic violence warrant, police said. She bailed out of jail at 10:30 p.m. Thursday. Her bail was listed as $50,000.

Police said they are still investigating the video and the allegations of child abuse and, as of Thursday night, Morales was not charged with any crime relating to the video.