A 31-year-old Houston woman was arrested early last week after being accused of using excessive physical force on two of her children.
Houston Police Chief Jim McNiell said he was contacted by the Houston Middle School on Monday of last week and asked to view a video recording taken at a residence.
“Unfortunately, it showed a woman later identified as the mother of the child, punishing her child by striking the child on different parts of the body,” McNiell said. “After viewing the video, it was obvious the parent used excessive force against the young child. The case had already been hotlined to the child abuse hotline, and I got the Divison of Family Services’ childrens’ division and juvenile office involved.”
In addition to the video evidence, photographic evidence was also obtained regarding abuse of a second child. McNiell said the children – ages 8 and 5 – were taken by DFS and placed in temporary housing while an investigation took place.
McNiell contacted Texas County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Anderson, who viewed the video and filed charges. As a result, Crystal D. Turrubiates, of 109 Third St. in Houston, was arrested late Friday afternoon on two counts of abuse or neglect of a child, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
“After my investigation, I felt it warranted charges against the mother,” McNiell said.
An officer made the arrest at the U.S. 63 convenience store where Turrubiates works, and transported her to the Texas County Jail where she was unable to post $250,000 bond.
“I don’t know Ms. Turrubiates, but I assume she’s a good mother and I know the kids love her,” McNiell said. “This is one of those situations where sometimes you need a cooling off period, and not take your anger out on your kids. This is a prime example of someone — because of frustrations of whatever else — ending up using excessive force that is not allowed by the law.
McNiell said that many people involved in the case were in agreement with the charges.
“There’s a fine line between what you can and can’t do when you’re punishing your child,” he said. “But all the people who work in the profession of dealing with children and in the prosecution of criminal cases seem to agree that this is as bad as they’ve seen as far as abuse toward a child.
“When I saw it, I was incensed. It wasn’t right, and I felt like someone has to be there for those kids, and that’s where law enforcement, social services and the prosecutor’s office have to step up and do what they can do. I’m hoping in the long run that the mother will learn from this and that she can be helped, and if it’s meant to be, that those kids go back to her.
“It’s a tough case.”