Placentia: Intoxicated Mother Flees After Running Over 8-Year-Old Girl & Bystander

09.16.2021 | 11:37 PM | PLACENTIA – A woman was under arrest after she dragged her eight-year-old child and a bystander who were concerned about her driving while intoxicated, late Thursday night.

Officers responded to reports of an assault investigation involving a child and a bystander who had been dragged by a vehicle in the 400 block of Orchid Drive, near North Melrose Street, around 11:37 PM.

Units arriving on scene learned that an eight-year-old girl and her mother were at the child’s grandparents home when the mother, who was apparently intoxicated, decided to leave.

The woman’s child was concerned about her mother’s level of intoxication and attempted to stop her from leaving by holding onto a car door handle but was dragged about 300 feet.

A bystander observed the child being dragged and attempted to intervene only to be dragged by the vehicle himself before the mother fled.

Both the child and bystander were treated on scene before being rushed to area hospitals with moderate injuries.

Police later found the mother, identified as 44-year-old Erin Michelle Garcia, of Laguna Niguel, hiding in the bushes of the grandmother’s home around 1:08 AM.

Garcia reportedly became combative with officers, kicking one before ultimately being subdued.

Erin Michelle Garcia (44)

She was later arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, child endangerment, battery on a peace officer, and resisting.

Jail records show Garcia is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact detectives by calling (714) 993-8164.

Anonymous tips can be submitted through the Orange County Crime Stoppers by calling (855) TIP-OCCS or by visiting their website at www.occrimestoppers.org.

Miles Madison

Miles started reporting breaking news in 2015 and has been providing high-quality news video and timely reports from the Orange County area ever since. Combining his experience as a seasoned photojournalist, radio operator and sleuth, Miles provides unrivaled multimedia news reports.