BEDFORD – A juvenile female was taken into custody on October 3, 2024, following an incident involving domestic battery and a reported runaway.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed by Sgt. Toby Gerkin, Bedford Police officers were dispatched to the 24th and H Streets area after a mother reported that her daughter had run away from home. The mother was following her daughter in a vehicle. Officers quickly located the juvenile running on G Street near 22nd Street.
Upon encountering the 12-year-old girl, Sgt. Gerkin instructed her to stop, and she complied. Officer Tedrow arrived shortly after that, placing the girl in a police vehicle for her safety.
In a conversation with the mother, she explained that her daughter had been exhibiting behavioral issues and had recently pulled her sister’s hair and removed her from a couch during an argument. After taking away her daughter’s phone as a consequence, the girl reacted by slamming the door and leaving the house without permission.
The mother expressed her desire to file a runaway report. After discussing the situation further, she opted to press charges for domestic battery on behalf of her other daughter, who was not present at the scene. Police say the sister did not have any visible injuries.
Following the incident, the on-call probation officer was contacted, and the decision was made to release the juvenile with a promise to appear in juvenile court. The girl was returned to her mother and given a summons to appear in Lawrence County Juvenile Probation on Wednesday, October 16, at 9:00 a.m.
The police department has stated that it will continue to work with the family, which is already involved with the Department of Child Services (DCS) regarding ongoing behavioral concerns.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
