Woman walked into traffic holding infant, Crown alleges

A woman who allegedly walked into rush-hour traffic while holding her infant child was granted bail on Friday in a Brandon provincial courtroom.

Rita Innerst, 24, faces charges of abandoning a child under 10 years old, reckless disregard for the life and safety of another person, and two counts of failing to comply with court orders not to consume alcohol or drugs.

Crown attorney Reid Girard said the Crown was opposed to Innerst’s release, arguing she that she won’t be able to follow court-ordered conditions.

Reading the allegations to the court, Girard said Brandon Police Service officers on patrol on Aug. 18 saw a woman tugging at the door of Tana Ethiopian Cuisine on 10th Street.

While speaking with the woman, who officers believed to be intoxicated, she ran into the passenger side of the cruiser, Girard said.

“Police spoke to multiple people on the sidewalk who all said she was chasing people around and being belligerent,” Girard said.

Police told her to leave the area but shortly after got a call that a woman who appeared to be intoxicated was shoving a man on 10th Street. A few hours later, police got an anonymous call from someone who said Innerst was intoxicated, yelling and scaring people, he said.

Police picked her up and brought her to a shelter, but soon received another call.

“Another anonymous caller reported that Miss Innerst was last seen near the North 40 … that she appeared intoxicated and was walking into traffic while carrying a baby,” Girard said.

Girard said officers found the woman at the Travelodge, but when she saw police she ran east, then walked across two lanes of heavy southbound traffic on 18th Street North while still holding the infant.

When she reached the median, she tripped over the barrier and fell on the child, and nearly into the path of vehicles in the northbound lane. She then stood on the barrier and police managed to get a hold of the child and arrest the mother.

Police called an ambulance but there were no visible injuries to the child, who Girard said was less than a year old.

The following day, Innerst was released by the Crown on a $1,500 promise to pay and several conditions, including that she not have contact with her child and that she not consume alcohol or drugs.

On Sept. 18, officers arrested Innerst after receiving a report that a woman was intoxicated and passed out in a yard on 12th Street, and again on Oct. 2 when they received a report that a woman was either injured or intoxicated lying partially on 18th Street, Girard said.

“The concern here is that when she’s intoxicated, she engages in reckless criminal behaviour,” he said. “Given that she is clearly in the throes of an active addiction that’s unmanaged, if she’s released, she is going to drink again.”

Defence lawyer Anthony Dawson said Innerst’s father was only in her life for a few years, and her mother struggled with her own addiction issues that led Innerst to be apprehended by Child and Family Services.

He agreed that Innerst has addiction issues, but said she is addressing them and working with a professional.

“The thing that we must always remember when it comes to addiction issues, whether it’s alcohol or hard or street drugs, is that it’s something that takes quite a bit of time for someone to really be able to get over,” he said.

Dawson said people who are trying to address their addictions are bound to have slip-ups, and Innerst shouldn’t be punished for hers.

He also pointed to her criminal record, which he said is light with only two convictions.

Dawson presented a bail plan that included a $200 cash deposit and a condition that she does not consume alcohol.

Judge Patrick Sullivan granted Innerst release and encouraged her to seek treatment for her addiction.

» sanderson@brandonsun.com