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An Glendale woman was arrested Saturday after running over her young son's leg while leaving a grocery store. The woman was believed to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident; Glendale police Sgt. Robert William told the L.A. Times that she refused to take a chemical sobriety test and performed “poorly” during a field sobriety check.
According to the Times, Sharla Joseph, 46, was arguing with her two sons while preparing to leave a Ralphs supermarket parking lot just before 5 p.m. Saturday when she allegedly threatened to leave the boys behind in the parking lot.
Joseph's sons reportedly clung to the car door as their mother entered the vehicle alone and started the engine. The Times reports that her seven-year-old son was knocked to the ground when the car started moving, and that one of Joseph's car tires subsequently ran over the boy's thigh. The boy was "bruised but mostly uninjured," and tire tread marks were visible on his leg after the incident, according to William.
City News Service reports that Joseph was charged with two counts of child abuse and one count of driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury on Tuesday, and that she is currently in custody in Lynwood.
