Staff Report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a series of troubling events early this morning, 24-year-old Kiara Michelle Kendrick was taken into custody following an alleged assault involving a phone. The incident also unveiled a separate concern, as it was discovered that Kendrick had left her three young children unattended for several hours while she spent time at a nearby restaurant and bar.
The altercation reportedly began around 12:24 a.m. on May 13, when officers from the Gainesville Police Department were called to the 200 block of West University Avenue. Upon arrival, they were informed by the victim that an argument between him and Kendrick had escalated, resulting in Kendrick throwing a phone at him, which struck his eye.
During questioning, Kendrick, after being read her Miranda rights, acknowledged that there had been a heated exchange with the victim. She admitted to throwing an object in the midst of their argument but claimed, “I have been drinking and don’t know what I threw.” She could not confirm whether the item had indeed hit the victim.
Witnesses to the altercation corroborated that Kendrick had thrown the phone, although they did not see it make contact with the victim’s face. The officer noted that the victim’s left eye exhibited some “reddish coloring,” suggesting possible impact.
In a separate but related development, police officers, while handling an unrelated call, discovered that Kendrick had left her children, all under the age of five, alone at home for roughly four hours. During this time, she was reportedly at a downtown venue, raising further concerns about the welfare of the young children.
Post Miranda, Kendrick reportedly admitted that she had left her children home alone; she said she had set up a Facetime call in the children’s room on her phone, and she had been monitoring the children from a friend’s phone. Kendrick reportedly said she had done this approximately three times in the past, also. She said there was a neighbor she could call if the children needed something, but she had not spoken with the neighbor that evening about watching the children.
A witness reportedly said she had picked Kendrick up from her home at about 9:45 p.m., and the children were left home alone but were “supervised” by a video camera.
Kendrick has been charged with three counts of child neglect without great bodily harm and one count of domestic battery. She has no local criminal history; bail will be set tomorrow.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law
