Inset: Samantha E. Fletcher (Tullytown Police Dept.). Background: The Walmart where Fletcher allegedly knocked her child unconscious (Google Maps).
A woman from Pennsylvania has been charged with allegedly rendering her young child unconscious during a shopping trip at Walmart. Witnesses reportedly saw her repeatedly “slamming” the boy in and out of a shopping cart.
Samantha Fletcher faces charges including aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person, and simple assault, tied to the incident.
The Tullytown Borough Police issued a statement detailing their response on March 14 to a welfare check call for a child at the Walmart on Levittown Parkway.
Upon their arrival, officers interviewed a witness who described a woman behaving erratically while shopping with her children.
“The witness noticed a woman who seemed to be under the influence, yelling profanities at two small children, and dragging one child across the floor by a backpack leash as he cried uncontrollably,” the statement said. “The witness claimed she then lifted the child and dropped him into the cart, causing him to hit his head, leading to a moment of unconsciousness.”
Officers soon found the woman, identified as Fletcher, still in the store, reportedly holding the unconscious child in her arms.
Emergency medical personnel at the scene examined the victim, determining the child required “immediate medical attention.”
Investigators said they ultimately determined Fletcher was responsible for the injuries observed on the child. She was taken into custody and later arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Terrence P. Hughes. The judge ordered Fletcher to remain in custody at the Bucks County Correctional Facility in lieu of $10,000 bond.
Court documents obtained by Phillyburbs.com provided additional details about the alleged incident and the child’s condition.
According to a probable cause affidavit, a shopper who approached Fletcher asked if she needed help with the crying boy. Fletcher allegedly responded that the woman could try. The witness said the child briefly calmed down when picked up, resting his head on the woman’s shoulder.
However, investigators allege Fletcher then escalated her actions, repeatedly handling the child in a violent manner. At some point, Fletcher repeatedly “slammed” the boy in and out of the shopping cart, doing so at least five times, the report states. During one of those instances, the child struck his head on the cart, losing consciousness soon after.
When police arrived, they found the boy unresponsive in Fletcher’s arms, while another child was asleep in the cart. Medics were unable to wake the boy, who had a large bruise on his forehead, according to the affidavit.
The child was transported via ambulance to St. Mary Medical Center, where a CT scan reportedly revealed he had suffered a serious concussion.
Authorities also contacted child protective services, and the children were later released to their father.
Fletcher is currently scheduled to appear in court for her arraignment on April 24, records show.
