Suffolk, Va. – A woman is now facing child abuse charges in Suffolk after a traffic incident involving an 11-month-old child, police tell NewsChannel 3.
On Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at approximately 10:10 a.m., officers conducted a traffic stop at the corner of Linden Avenue and Kilby Avenue. They stopped a vehicle that had an expired Virginia registration, and no high mounted brake light.
Police identified that driver as Jenna M. Poirier. The police officer could smell a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle.
Poirier was asked to turn off her vehicle when the passenger instructed her to go and to “floor it”. Police say Poirier then accelerated in a reckless manner, nearly hitting two police officers.
Police say Poirier drove away from police, and stopped approximately 500 feet away from the intersection where the traffic stop was conducted. The passenger then fled from the vehicle. Officers re-initiated contact with the driver, who had her 11-month-old child in the back seat of the vehicle during the entire incident.
Child Protective Services was notified of the incident.
Poirier was charged with Abuse and Neglect of Children, Obstructing Justice, and Eluding Police.
Watch NewsChannel 3 for updates as they are available.
