Nationwide — Oriel Dykes, a young African American mother from Lower Allen, Pennsylvania, was arrested after a fight at a mall parking lot ended with her infant thrown from a stroller. Police say surveillance video captured the incident, which unfolded during a group altercation.
According to Atlanta News First, police responded to the Capital City Mall on December 13 after reports of a fight in the parking lot. When officers arrived, they found Messiah Cloud and Kajah George with visible injuries to their faces and knuckles.
Investigators later identified two more people involved, Carrie Bowman and Oriel Dykes. Surveillance footage showed Dykes leaving her infant unattended in a stroller in a main parking aisle so she could join the fight. Moments later, she returned and pushed the stroller toward the area where the fight continued.
Police said Dykes kicked at another person during the confrontation. In the process, the stroller tipped over, and the infant, who was not restrained, was thrown onto the parking lot surface.
Officers arrested Dykes at the scene and took her to Cumberland County Prison, where she was charged with simple assault and endangering the welfare of children. Court records show she has since been released from custody.