A 29-year-old woman was taken into custody on Friday evening in South Knoxville after witnesses reported seeing her hit a child in the face. The incident occurred in a parking lot, prompting them to alert the police.

Loren Whaley, 29, is charged with felony child abuse. 

The arrest records indicate that Knoxville police responded to a call at the Kroger parking lot on Chapman Highway near West Young High Pike around 7 p.m. The call reported an incident where a woman allegedly struck a 7-year-old in the face.

Upon arrival, the officers spoke with a witness who claimed to have observed Whaley dragging the child by the arm into a white vehicle in the parking lot and subsequently striking the child twice in the face with a closed fist. Another witness provided a similar account, substantiating the report.

Police approached the child, who initially stated he had a nosebleed. The officers asked if he had been hit, and the child seemed hesitant before eventually indicating the right side of his face, which suggested an injury, as per the report.

The officers noticed that the child’s face appeared red, with dried blood on his shorts and leg. Eventually, the child confirmed to the officers that Whaley had dragged him to the car and hit him in the face.

When officers spoke to Whaley, she was in the driver’s seat of the car with the door open, using a water bottle to wash her hands. When questioned, she repeatedly mentioned needing to get her phone but did not provide an explanation of the events, as noted in the arrest records.

The child was released to his mother, according to the warrant. It’s unclear what relation Whaley shares with the child. 

She was booked into the Knox County Jail on Saturday afternoon. She’s due in court Monday morning.