Woman charged with assaulting cop after signing away custody of children

A Perryville, Missouri, woman signed her children over to the Perry County, Missouri, juvenile officer and the Missouri Department of Family Services on Wednesday.

When she tried to get them back a short time later, she ended up being charged with assaulting a law-enforcement officer.

Melissa Sue Lucas, 30, of Perryville was arrested and charged with felony assault on a law-enforcement officer and resisting arrest.

Perryville police responded at about 3 p.m. Wednesday to Women's Shelter, where Lucas had dropped off her children, stating they were the shelter's problem now, according to a probable-cause statement by officer Benjamin Neff.

Neff contacted the juvenile officer and Department of Family Services worker on scene, who said Lucas had signed custody of her children over to the juvenile office and had refused to put an explanation on the paper as to why, according to the report.

Less than 5 minutes later Lucas was back in the Women's Shelter, saying she wanted her children back, Neff wrote.

A Women's Shelter employee said Lucas was no longer welcome at the facility, the report stated.

Neff told Lucas she needed to leave the shelter or she would be arrested for trespassing, according to the report.

She started to walk into the shelter office when Neff put his hand on her shoulder, and she responded by trying to punch him, the report stated.

Neff grabbed her wrists, and she started kicking him, the report stated.

Neff wrote he brought Lucas down to the ground, and she eventually was handcuffed with the help of the juvenile officer.

On the way to the patrol car, Lucas stopped walking and had to be dragged the rest of the way, the report stated.

Lucas' bond was set at $10,000 cash or surety.

bkleine@semissourian.com

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