La. mom accused of throwing 6-month-old in the trash during fight at Walmart

EUNICE, La. (TCN) -- Police arrested a 38-year-old woman over the weekend after she allegedly "tossed" her 6-month-old child in the trash while she got into a physical altercation at a local Walmart.

The Eunice News reports the Eunice Police Department wrote in a statement that officers responded to the Walmart on Saturday, June 22, at around 3:30 p.m. regarding a fight in progress. The argument was over by the time police arrived, but they detained those allegedly involved in the dispute.

Police obtained footage from the store and determined the fight occurred near the front door of the store. They reportedly saw the suspect, Brionka Benjamin, holding her infant in her arms, but when a verbal altercation broke out, she "tossed the infant in a trash can and struck another individual."

Officers arrested Benjamin on charges of simple battery and cruelty to juveniles.

Benjamin's niece, Makatelynn Benjamin, was also arrested for simple battery due to her alleged participation in the scuffle.

According to KLFY-TV, the child was not injured and is in the custody of other family members.