A woman has been charged with child abuse after crashing her car into the lobby of a Los Angeles police station while her 2-month-old baby was on board.
Twenty-nine-year-old Michelle Denise Betancourt has been charged with one felony count each of child abuse under conditions likely to cause great bodily harm or death, assault upon a police officer, vandalism resulting in over $400 of damage, resisting an exectutive officer, battery with injury on a peace officer, and one misdemeanor count of hit-and-run driving resulting in property damage.
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, on February 9 Betancourt allegedly crashed her car into an LAPD Harbor police station. When asked to exit the vehicle by an officer Betancourt accelerated in reverse nearly hitting the officer who jumped out of the way. While being taken into custody Betancourt injured another officer.
Shortly before crashing into the LAPD Harbor station Betancourt was reportedly involved in a hit-and-run near the 110 Freeway and Anaheim Street. She is additionally charged with fleeing the scene of an accident.
On February 26 Betancourt pleaded not guilty to the charges against her. If convicted Betancourt faces a possible sentence of 10 years in state prison. She is scheduled to return to court on March 6.