Woman arrested for child cruelty

Tue, 06/19/2007 - 11:51am
By: John Munford

A Fayetteville woman was arrested Friday by police for cruelty to children after a spanking left deep bruises on her 5-year-old son that lasted for two days.

Kia Copeland, 35, of Virginia Highlands was arrested for one felony count of cruelty to children, police said.

The child had deep bruising from his buttocks down to his knee that were present Friday although the spanking occurred Wednesday, police said.

The injury initially was reported to police by an employee of a Fayetteville day care center, police said. Officers interviewed Copeland before arresting her, police said.

A caseworker from the Department of Family and Children Services did not remove the child from the home but instituted a safety plan that must be followed, police indicated.

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Basmati's picture
Submitted by Basmati on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 11:37am.

Link to State of Georgia "Safety Plans" for abused kids

The fourth link is a "child safety plan" form (it's in Microsoft Word format)

Not much to it, it identifies four behaviors and three steps each to change them.


Tug13's picture
Submitted by Tug13 on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 12:06pm.

You're right, not much to it.


Submitted by tonto707 on Tue, 06/19/2007 - 3:52pm.

can develop an argument to justify leaving this child with the person that abused it. Just give them time to collude and come up with it.

Submitted by dollaradayandfound on Tue, 06/19/2007 - 5:17pm.

The Lone Ranger rode by today, hollering, "fool, fool, tonto, where are you?"
"Kemo Sobbey" yelled Tonto (fool) and he meant it!
I would stay in the canyon a while longer if I were you, he just hears the echo.

Tug13's picture
Submitted by Tug13 on Tue, 06/19/2007 - 2:54pm.

I can not believe this child was beaten by his mother, and returned to his mother!
What is a safety plan??


eodnnaenaj1's picture
Submitted by eodnnaenaj1 on Tue, 06/19/2007 - 3:04pm.

I have no clue what this safety plan might be. However, this reminds me of so many stories that are along this line, there was a problem, the child was returned to the home, and the next story you hear . . .
I just wondered if someone could explain or help me understand this reasoning.


Tug13's picture
Submitted by Tug13 on Wed, 06/20/2007 - 12:58pm.

Do you think this mother is required to have a 24 hour guard, to keep her from beating this child again? That's what she needs!

Surely someone knows what a safety plan is.

I personally know three precious children who were returned to the parents after they beat them. These three little ones were beaten again, the baby almost died.

All three are now being adopted by a loving family, who were the foster parents. They want to keep them together.


eodnnaenaj1's picture
Submitted by eodnnaenaj1 on Wed, 06/20/2007 - 2:12pm.

We are in total agreement, by returning the child to this situation, seems to be inviting trouble.

Perhaps someone within the DFACS system or someone with more information than we everyday folk could explain the thought process involved. I simply cannot understand returning the child to the home. Well, the baby is in my thoughts and prayers.


Submitted by dollaradayandfound on Sat, 06/23/2007 - 7:17am.

The DFACS people are everyday folks! They simply get their days ruined all the time by kids in trouble!
"Well, the baby is in my thoughts and prayers." That ought to do the trick, I won't worry any more.
We will just wait until DFACS tells us what happened to the kid. Never.

Tug13's picture
Submitted by Tug13 on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 8:59am.

It's sad that only three bloggers have questioned this "safety plan."

I'm hoping it's because these good people didn't see, or read the story.

Surely someone knows what a "safety plan" is.

I pray this child will not be beaten again.


Submitted by dollaradayandfound on Sat, 06/23/2007 - 7:21am.

Bloggers just blog!

I'll explain safety plan:
Grady has promised in writing to handle the medical needs if she is beaten again. They will even go get the child if called. Then, also, all eyes are on the Mother, who can see. Those who can't see, are excused. We must all feel better now since all are praying. Fussing, gossiping, criticizing, also helps muchly.

hutch866's picture
Submitted by hutch866 on Sat, 06/23/2007 - 7:23am.

tell us what your plan for the kid was or is?

I yam what I yam...Popeye


Submitted by dollaradayandfound on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 11:22am.

If you knew would you find something wrong with it? I think so.
Why don't you just keep the kid?
Where do you want the kid to go?

eodnnaenaj1's picture
Submitted by eodnnaenaj1 on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 10:08am.

with Gump, in that there isn't much folks can say. . .

However, we seem to have some very well informed co-bloggers, some who speak as though they are in law enforcement, lawyers, and the like. I would certainly think someone could explain to us what the "plan" might be, and how and why this child was returned to the home.

It is amusing to me, on a daily basis, to see what blogs take off with many many comments, and other topics that seem just as important, and there is little or no response.

Well, guess the child has a couple of old gals thinking and praying for their safety; and I'm sure there are others. All we can do is pray for the best.


Tug13's picture
Submitted by Tug13 on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 11:29am.

I'm hoping a lot of people are praying for this child.

You're right, there are a lot of law enforcement people, attorneys etc. that blog here. Maybe eventually, one of them will tell us about this "safety plan."


Submitted by dollaradayandfound on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 11:40am.

You "hope a lot of people are praying."
Is this an insinuation that God won't act until we pray?
Wouldn't some action on your part help sooner?
I'll meet you over there at noon tomorrow to do something about it, if you wish.

hutch866's picture
Submitted by hutch866 on Fri, 06/22/2007 - 9:26pm.

Hey man, you forgot to tell us what you were going to do about that abused kid, we were here at noon where were you?

I yam what I yam...Popeye


Submitted by dollaradayandfound on Sat, 06/23/2007 - 5:58am.

If you already got the kid then I won't bother with that one. Glad to know you finally did something instead of asking others to do it.

hutch866's picture
Submitted by hutch866 on Sat, 06/23/2007 - 7:25am.

the only thing I asked anyone to do was you to tell me what your great plan was, you don't seem to want to let us in on it.

I yam what I yam...Popeye


hutch866's picture
Submitted by hutch866 on Sat, 06/23/2007 - 6:27am.

We didn't get the kid, we were waiting on you, you had the plan remember. what was the plan?

I yam what I yam...Popeye


hutch866's picture
Submitted by hutch866 on Fri, 06/22/2007 - 11:38am.

come on dollar, you said you would do something about it, let us know what you're going to do, I know you've read this and the other posts, let us in on the secret.

I yam what I yam...Popeye


hutch866's picture
Submitted by hutch866 on Fri, 06/22/2007 - 5:52am.

why not answer my questions from a earlier post?

I yam what I yam...Popeye


hutch866's picture
Submitted by hutch866 on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 8:34pm.

Is it just me, or did $ just ask you out?

I yam what I yam...Popeye


Tug13's picture
Submitted by Tug13 on Fri, 06/22/2007 - 9:34am.

hutch, I don't think dollar asked me out. I think he wants to fight me.
LOL

Ignore him hutch. He just trys to stir things up. I guess he doesn't have anything else to do.

As for the abused child, I would take care of all of the abused children if I could. So sad.

Have a great day.
Tug Smiling


hutch866's picture
Submitted by hutch866 on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 8:13pm.

you said you'd meet her there, where's there, and what are you going to do about it?

I yam what I yam...Popeye


hutch866's picture
Submitted by hutch866 on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 1:34pm.

I'll meet you $, say the place and time, tell me what are you goung to do about it?

I yam what I yam...Popeye


eodnnaenaj1's picture
Submitted by eodnnaenaj1 on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 2:34pm.

I'd say there are several of us that would probably be very willing to help a child in need, especially a child in danger.


Gump's picture
Submitted by Gump on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 9:18am.

Tug, I hadn't commented on this so-called safety plan, because I agree with your assessment and had nothing further to add. It's a modern version of "The Emperor's New Clothes". There's no safety at all in putting those kids back with their mother, just the self-delusion that there is "a plan". I just hope the mother has a change of heart, or something changes the situation for the better, but I doubt it.

I think the silence on this topic is probably for lack of anything constructive to say about it.
---------------------------------------------------------
Ridicule is the last resort for a bankrupt point of view.


Tug13's picture
Submitted by Tug13 on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 11:15am.

I was hoping that maybe someone knows what a "safety plan" is.

I get on my soap box when I hear someone has abused their children. Especially when they are returned to the parents who abused them.


eodnnaenaj1's picture
Submitted by eodnnaenaj1 on Tue, 06/19/2007 - 2:24pm.

The woman was arrested for cruelty to children . . .and the child is now with her with a "safety plan"?!? Help me understand.

$aday, please don't respond, just don't bother.


howdoyoulikemenow's picture
Submitted by howdoyoulikemenow on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 11:42am.

Our system is in need of major revisions I have to admit. I have not been able to find anything with regards to the State of Ga., however several states have posted on their websites information regarding their plans and timelines regarding Child abuse/cruelty in the biological home and foster care. And just to read these plans is quite overwhelming and mindboggling. There are several hearings that must take place and social workers are to "visit" the homes and enter their evaluations or findings of the safety within the home. Some States require phycological evaluations of the parent and child and may see fit to place the child with another family memeber until all parties can come together with a plan. In this case I am not sure what the State of Georgia requires and may have place the child back with the parent using Temporary Parental Cust. until evaluations can be completed. Which in the long run could be a matter of life and death in my opionion to the child. I don't feel that the child should have been placed back in the home with this woman. If the parent spanked or hit the child hard enough to induce deep or any kind of bruising the child should be place with another family member until further investigation can be done to insure his or her safety.
That's just my opionion.


Submitted by dollaradayandfound on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 11:25am.

I suggest that you just go ahead and take the kid in yourself and keep them safe. Or do you want the dreaded "DFACS" to do it?

Submitted by dollaradayandfound on Tue, 06/19/2007 - 5:09pm.

All of you guys who want to take care of this child, please leave your name at the police station and I will set it up for you to take turns. I doubt there are others who will.
I thought all you guys liked the cops.

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