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Inset: Samantha E. Fletcher (Tullytown Police Dept.). Background: The Walmart where Fletcher allegedly knocked her child unconscious (Google Maps).
A Pennsylvania woman has been accused of rendering her young child unconscious during a shopping trip to Walmart, after allegedly forcefully “slamming” the boy into and out of a shopping cart in full view of onlookers.
Samantha Fletcher faces charges including aggravated assault, child endangerment, reckless endangerment, and simple assault stemming from the incident.
According to a statement released by Tullytown Borough Police, officers were dispatched on March 14 to conduct a welfare check on a young child at the Walmart on Levittown Parkway.
Upon arrival, officers interviewed a witness who described seeing a woman behaving erratically while shopping with her children.
“The witness observed a woman who appeared to be under the influence, shouting profanities at two young children and dragging one child across the floor by a backpack leash as he cried uncontrollably,” the release stated. “The witness reported that the woman lifted the child and dropped him into a shopping cart, causing him to hit his head. Subsequently, the child lost consciousness.”
A short while later, officers located the woman, later identified as Fletcher, still inside the store. They said she was “holding the unconscious child in her arms” at the time.
Emergency medical personnel at the scene examined the victim, determining the child required “immediate medical attention.”
Investigators said they ultimately determined Fletcher was responsible for the injuries observed on the child. She was taken into custody and later arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Terrence P. Hughes. The judge ordered Fletcher to remain in custody at the Bucks County Correctional Facility in lieu of $10,000 bond.
Court documents obtained by Phillyburbs.com provided additional details about the alleged incident and the child’s condition.
According to a probable cause affidavit, a shopper who approached Fletcher asked if she needed help with the crying boy. Fletcher allegedly responded that the woman could try. The witness said the child briefly calmed down when picked up, resting his head on the woman’s shoulder.
However, investigators allege Fletcher then escalated her actions, repeatedly handling the child in a violent manner. At some point, Fletcher repeatedly “slammed” the boy in and out of the shopping cart, doing so at least five times, the report states. During one of those instances, the child struck his head on the cart, losing consciousness soon after.
When police arrived, they found the boy unresponsive in Fletcher’s arms, while another child was asleep in the cart. Medics were unable to wake the boy, who had a large bruise on his forehead, according to the affidavit.
The child was transported via ambulance to St. Mary Medical Center, where a CT scan reportedly revealed he had suffered a serious concussion.
Authorities also contacted child protective services, and the children were later released to their father.
Fletcher is currently scheduled to appear in court for her arraignment on April 24, records show.