Florida Woman Drops Infant While Fleeing Police, Injuring Child

A Florida woman is accused of dropping an infant while high on a psychoactive drug, fracturing the child’s skull, say reports on Nov. 21.

Kayla Morgan, 23, was fleeing officers who tried to stop her from running in and out of traffic on Nov. 19, WESH-TV reported. She was charged with aggravated child abuse and resisting arrest.

Marion County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a woman running into traffic with a baby near Highway 315 and Highway 40. When they approached her, she ran and dropped the child head-first.

Kayla Morgan, 23, also hid behind vehicles, ran quickly, and "deliberately dropped the victim head first" on the side of the road, a police report stated, WFLA reported. Marion County Sheriff's Office

Before the chase, deputies first tried to speak with the woman, WFTV reported, but she then bolted and was nearly hit by cars.

It’s not clear if the infant belonged to her.

She also hid behind vehicles, ran quickly, and “deliberately dropped the victim head first” on the side of the road, a police report stated.

Morgan was hit twice with a Taser after she dropped the child. She was also making animal noises, WFTV reported.

Morgan told officials that “a monster was trying to suck her blood,” WESH-TV. She also told them she was high on the drug “Molly,” which is usually MDMA cut with something else, as well as methamphetamine.

An apartment complex worker told WFLA that Morgan moved to the building about two months ago, adding the child is about six weeks of age.

The case is also being handled by the Florida Department of Children and Families.

She also hid behind vehicles, ran quickly, and "deliberately dropped the victim head first" on the side of the road, a police report stated, WFLA reported. Marion County Sheriff's Office

The website Poison Control says  “Molly” might sound like a harmless substance, but it “is a dangerous and unpredictable illegal drug.”

“Often, it contains one or more street drugs. Typically, they are mixed with other substances: legal drugs, illegal drugs, even household products like soap, sugar, and baking powder. People who take ‘Molly’ often abuse other drugs at the same time, especially alcohol, marijuana, and LSD,” the website says.

It adds: “Dangerous effects include a fast heartbeat and high blood pressure. Intense sweating and fever can lead to severe dehydration. This can cause kidney failure, possibly leading to death. An irregular heart rhythm, heart attacks, and seizures can occur; these also can be fatal. The risks are greatest in a hot environment, as occurs in a crowded club with a lot of active/frenzied dancers.”

MDMA, the active ingredient, is also known as “ecstasy” or “X.”

Violent Crime in the US

The number of murders and violent crimes committed in the United States dropped slightly in 2017, according to new crime statistics released in September 2018.

“Crime declined nationwide last year, consistent with our earlier analyses of 2017 data in the nation’s 30 largest cities,” Ames Grawert, senior counsel for the Justice Program at the Brennan Center for Justice in New York, told the Washington Times. “That’s the good news. The bad news is that even while crime is falling, the number of Americans incarcerated remains near-record highs. Now is the time to address the problem.”

The number of cases of manslaughter and murder dropped 0.7 percent in 2017 from the prior year, the report said.

Rapes rose by 3 percent and aggravated assault rose by 1 percent, but overall violent crimes dropped 0.2 percent, the report added.