A 23-year-old Rhode Island woman has been charged with second-degree child abuse after police say she struck her young son at the Woonsocket Motor Inn.
According to Woonsocket Patch, and a press release from the police department, Elizabeth Jarrie was arrested Tuesday evening following an investigation by the Woonsocket Police Department. Officers were called to the motel after witnesses reported a physical incident involving Jarrie and her child.
A woman staying at the motel with Jarrie’s father told police the group had been drinking and that Jarrie and her father had been arguing. During the argument, the woman said she saw Jarrie strike the boy. By the time an officer arrived, Jarrie had left on foot.
She was located a short time later at East School and Rathbun streets and taken to the police station, where a detective interviewed her and placed her under arrest, Patch reported.
Police also reviewed video provided by Jarrie’s father. In the footage, the child is seen throwing an object from a playpen. Jarrie then swings her open hand and strikes the boy in the face, knocking him to the floor of the playpen, according to the police report cited by Woonsocket Patch.
The child was taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence. An officer who responded there reported seeing hand-mark impressions on the boy’s arms, legs, back, stomach, and the back of his head.
At arraignment on Thursday, Jarrie pled not guilty and was issued a $5,000 surety/$500 cash bail.
Jarrie has several court cases listed in Sarasota County, Florida.
Also, according to the Sun North Port publication in Florida, Jarrie was accused in April of 2024 of leaving her infant with a 17-year-old babysitter she contacted through social media and not returning to pick up the child. Police said a similar incident had taken place previously.
