Utica Woman Arrested For Endangering Welfare Of A Child

Utica, NY (WIBX) - A Utica woman faces multiple misdemeanor charges following an incident in the Hannaford's parking lot.

UPD officials say 24-year-old Leandra Thompson, of Johnson Park, had left her car in a fire lane and was getting a ticket when she exited the grocery store.

When told she was getting a ticket, Thompson got into the car to leave, with her two children in the vehicle, including one standing on the front seat.

Thompson allegedly fled the scene nearly hitting the cop, who then followed her as she crossed Mohawk street into another lot.

When the car stopped, Thompson exited the car and opened the back door, against several commands not to. The officer attempted to arrest her, but she grabbed her child from the back seat and refused to be handcuffed.

Assisting officers were able to take the child from the woman and contain the other child, though she continued to fight her arrest.

Thompson is charged with two counts of harassment, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and four traffic summons.