Sarai Rachel James (Marshall County Jail)
A 27-year-old mother in Alabama was arrested last week for allegedly taking the punishment of her 7-year-old son too far when she forced the boy to walk home from school, an endeavor that ended with her running him over with her car.
Sarai Rachel James was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with one count of felony aggravated child abuse over the alleged incident, records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
A 53-year-old woman named Carla Mae Owens was in the vehicle being driven by James when she allegedly struck her child. Owens was also arrested and charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child, which is a misdemeanor.
According to the Boaz Police Department, the principal at the school James’ son attends contacted James on Feb. 8 and told her that the boy had gotten into trouble earlier in the school day, court documents obtained by AL.com reportedly state.
James that afternoon picked up her son at the school, which is reportedly located approximately eight blocks from where they live. Though their home was only a “short distance” from the school, police say that James stopped the vehicle and told her son to get out. She then informed the boy that he had to either walk or run the remainder of the distance home as punishment for acting out in school.
Shortly after James kicked the victim out of the vehicle, police said he grabbed onto the passenger side door handle and attempted to get back in the car. However, James responded by accelerating and trying to get away from her son, which resulted in the boy being pulled under the car and run over by the rear tire.
Despite the horrific series of events, the 7-year-old boy managed to walk away from the incident relatively unscathed.
“The child suffered only abrasions,” Boaz Police Chief Michael Abercrombie reportedly told The Sand Mountain Reporter. “It is a miracle he was not hurt worse than what he was.”
The boy was transported to the University of Alabama Hospital for treatment.
James was taken into custody and transported to the Marshall County Jail. She was released on Sunday after posting bond of $50,000. Owens was transported to the Boaz City Jail and was released after posting bond of $500.
Following James’ first court appearance, a judge prohibited her from having any contact with her son until further notice.
The Boaz Police Department did not immediately respond to a message from Law&Crime seeking additional information about the case.
