FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) — A woman is now in custody after stealing a car with a 4-year-old girl sleeping inside, according to Fayetteville police.
Angela McGarrah, 35, stole the 2004 white Ford Escape at about 11 a.m. near South Washington Avenue and East 13th Street, according to Sgt. Anthony Murphy, Fayetteville police spokesman.
Police later stopped McGarrah in Benton County near the intersection of Arkansas 264 and Arkansas 265, Murphy said.
McGarrah is now facing charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and theft of a motor vehicle. She was also cited by Arkansas State Police for driving charges.
Police said the mother of the child was dropping something off at a nearby house when the car was stolen.
"We found through the investigation that the vehicle was parked outside of a residence, mother ran in to the residence, kept the vehicle running and when she returned outside she noticed someone getting into the vehicle and driving away with her 4-year-old child asleep in the backseat," Murphy said.
Eyewitness Jacqueline Jones said the mother ran into one of the apartments screaming and yelling for help.
"She said the baby was in there and I'm like oh, my thoughts were everywhere," Jones said.
Jones said everyone went into a panic as they tried to call 911. Once the call was made, Jones said she was in shock about what just happened.
"I was just praying for safety for that baby you know. She was upset it was just a mess," she said.
McGarrah was being held Friday (March 2) at the Washington County Detention Center on a $7,500 bond. She has a hearing set for April 4 in Washington County Circuit Court.
