BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

WARFIELD — A Martin County woman was charged with child abuse after her daughter arrived at school with a bruised eye, police said.

Chief Deputy Chris Kidd of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office arrested Garnett Scott, 36, of Lovely, at Warfield Elementary School around 2 p.m. Dec. 17. The officer responded to a request for assistance from Social Services.

According to a police report, the investigation revealed that a juvenile girl came to school with a bruise above her eye and told school officials that her mother had “punched her in the eye while wearing a ring.” The girl reportedly said the incident occurred while they were on the way to see Santa Claus.

“She stated it hurt and she cried,” Deputy Kidd wrote in his report.

Scott reportedly told police that her two daughters had been arguing in the back seat of the car. She said she reached back to grab one of them to make her sit down, causing the injury, according to the report.

Both children were placed in protective custody, police said.

Scott faces a charge of assault, fourth degree (child abuse).