Atmore woman uses 1-month old to hold off fight with police; the baby not injured
Gardner
An Atmore woman was arrested on multiple charges after being accused of using a 1-month old infant as a shield as she tried to fight with police.
Sarah Maria Gardner, 22, 302 Everette St., was arrested June 14 and charged with assault II, endangering the welfare of a child, resisting arrest and obstructing justice. She was transported to the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton and later issued a $10,000 bond.
Atmore police said the incident began about 7:15 p.m. on June 13, when an officer on routine patrol on Jack Springs Road observed a male and female in the road arguing. When the officer stopped he reported the male, identified as Lagarick Black, 27, of Atmore ran from the scene and evaded officers. The officer then submitted misdemeanor arrest warrants for Black for obstructing governmental operations and attempting to elude.
About 11:35 a.m. June 14, an Atmore officer on patrol in the 300 block of Everette Street, reported seeing Black standing in front of an apartment before Black going inside.
The resident of the apartment, later identified as Gardner, refused to allow officers into her apartment. A search warrant was obtained to gain entry into the apartment to take Black into custody.
Police reported that as Black was being taken into custody, Gardner began shoving and punching the officer. A second officer began to assist but was unable to use force to subdue Gardner due to her having an infant tucked under her arm, using the infant as a shield.
Police reported Gardner disengaged and handed the infant to to someone nearby and began fighting with the officers. Police said once they realized the infant was no longer in danger, they were able to take Gardner to the ground and take her into custody.
Black was arrested on the misdemeanor warrants and officers learned that he was on probation in reference to several felony cases. Atmore police contacted Black's probation officer who advised the officers to transport Black to the detention center in Brewton.
