A 60-year-old California woman was facing child cruelty charges Saturday after an incident in which a poisonous pesticide was sprayed in the face of a 7-year-old neighbor.
Officers responded to a condominium complex on the 600 block of North 12th Street at approximately 7:15 p.m. following a report of an assault on a child. Investigators later determined the child was approached by Rodenhuis and sprayed in the face with a poisonous weed killer. The child was immediately treated by family members and emergency personnel who responded to the scene, taken to a local hospital and later released.
Grover Beach Police Department Cmdr. John Peters said the investigation into a motive was ongoing Thursday, but both the victim and Rodenhuis reside in the complex, and it appeared the victim was outside playing when the incident occurred.
Peters said that officials expect the child will make a full recovery.
As of Thursday morning, Rodenhuis remained in County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Agencies/Canadajournal