Mother charged after toddler falls out of moving car

A 3-year-old child fell out of the rear passenger-side door of a moving car as it was turning right onto U.S. 61, Perryville, Missouri, police said.

The child fell out in a car seat and rolled about four times, police said.

The Perry County, Missouri, prosecuting attorney’s office filed an arrest warrant Thursday for Jessie Marie Waggoner, 24, of Perryville and charged her with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Waggoner was not in custody Thursday at Perry County Jail.

A witness said she saw the 3-year-old fall out of the car April 12 as Waggoner turned left in a Dodge Neon onto Highway 51, according to a probable-cause report filed by officer Jon-Erik Bradford.

The witness added the child was not secured properly in the car seat, with only the lap and shoulder strap being secured, Bradford wrote.

Waggoner got out of the vehicle, put the child back in the car and drove off, but the witness followed her, according to the statement.

Waggoner stopped at a Mexican restaurant at Perryville Plaza instead of going to Perry County Memorial Hospital, Bradford wrote. She told police she checked on the child because she was crying, according to the statement.

Waggoner took the child to the emergency room after talking to officers, Bradford wrote. Bradford noted the child had abrasions on her face and a knot above her left eye, according to the statement.

The probable-cause statement was dated May 30. Perryville police representatives could not be reached for comment on why charges were not filed earlier.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

U.S. 61, Perryville, Mo.