MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – Minneapolis police report that a woman attempted to hang a toddler at a daycare on Friday morning. She then fled the scene in a vehicle, hitting a pedestrian and a bicyclist in two separate accidents before being taken into custody on an overpass she was trying to jump off from.
The Pioneer Press reports that the woman fled the daycare in the 2700 block of Humboldt Avenue South, a residential street two blocks from Lake of the Isles. Police received a call that the daycare provider had intentionally hanged a toddler. A parent who was dropping off another child rescued the 16-month-old boy. The child was taken to a hospital and is “doing fine,” according to Minneapolis Assistant Police Chief Kris Arneson, who spoke at a news conference.
The woman fled in a gold minivan and hit and injured a pedestrian at East 28th Street and Grand Avenue South, police said. The pedestrian was dragged for several blocks. Arneson said that the pedestrian, a man, has several broken bones and cuts but is expected to survive his injuries.
The woman also struck a bicyclist at East 28th Street and Park Avenue South, according to police. The bicyclist, a man, is hospitalized and Arneson said that he is expected to survive as well.
Less than ten minutes later, police received a call about a person who was trying to jump off of an Interstate 94 overpass. Bystanders held the woman down until police arrived on the scene. Police joined the bystanders in a “struggle” to prevent the woman from jumping off the edge of the overpass. She was arrested at the scene.
The woman is now in custody and is being evaluated at a local hospital.
Arneson said that police are working with Hennepin County Child Protection workers and the state patrol is assisting with the investigations into the hit and run.
At this time, the motive for the woman’s actions are unclear.
Authorities have not disclosed the woman’s identity, but Arneson said during the press conference that the operator of the day care is the suspect. According to the Star Tribune, the facility is licensed to 42-year-old Nataliia M. Karia. Karia’s license took effect in April 2009 and expires in April 2017.
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Andrea Mayer-Bruestle
Andrea Mayer-Bruestle is a former writer for Alpha News.
