Mom allegedly dragged daughter, 8, with car after girl tried to stop her from driving drunk

PLACENTIA, Calif. (TCD) -- A 44-year-old woman was arrested Thursday evening after she allegedly dragged her 8-year-old daughter with her car because her daughter didn’t want her to drive drunk.

According to the Placentia Police Department, officers responded to a call on the 400 block of Orchid Drive regarding an assault. When they arrived, they reportedly found an 8-year-old girl with abrasions on her legs and feet who was with her grandmother.

Police learned that Erin Garcia of Laguna Nigel wanted to leave her mom’s house on Orchid Drive, but she was intoxicated. The girl was reportedly "concerned about her driving due to her intoxication level" and followed her mom to the car. According to police, the girl "grabbed the passenger’s door handle and told Garcia to stop."

Placentia Police say Garcia drove off after looking at her daughter and proceeded to drag her 300 feet.

A male bystander reportedly witnessed the daughter getting dragged and attempted to intervene, police say. Garcia’s mother and the bystander reportedly tried getting Garcia out of the car. Garcia reportedly stopped the car momentarily then drove off again, dragging the bystander "a short distance."

Garcia reportedly fled the scene after that.

Placentia Police say they found Garcia hiding in the bushes in her mother’s backyard. As officers tried taking her into custody, she reportedly resisted and kicked at them. Garcia was taken to the Orange County Jail and booked on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, child endangerment, resisting a peace officer, and battery against a peace officer.

According to police, the girl and the bystander were both transported to a nearby hospital with moderate injuries.

Orange County Jail inmate records show she is still in custody.

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