Episode #143: Mother of the Year

Woman arrested on child cruelty charge

by Jeff Gable

An Alabama woman was arrested Tuesday afternoon after police say she injured a child while dragging it through a store in Rome.

According to Floyd County Jail records:
Melissa Catherine Smith-Means, 37, of Gaylesville, Ala., was arrested by Rome police around 12:30 p.m. She was charged with felony first-degree cruelty to children.

Police say she was observed by customers and employees at a store on Broad Street, dragging a small child around by a backpack leash. The child had visible marks on the neck from the incident.

She remains in jail without bail.