SALISBURY, N.C. , A Rowan County woman is facing a misdemeanor child abuse charge after investigators say surveillance video from the Rowan County Detention Center captured her striking her 2-year-old son during a jail visitation.
According to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, detectives opened an investigation on June 29 after the incident was discovered during a routine review of detention center records.
Investigators said surveillance video from the detention center annex at 400 Grace Church Road showed 29-year-old Katelyn Gail Russell in the public lobby during a video visitation with an inmate on June 28. Russell was accompanied by her 2-year-old son, and investigators said no other members of the public were in the lobby at the time.
Authorities allege the video shows Russell becoming upset with the child before striking him in the back of the head, causing him to fall to the floor. Investigators said Russell then picked the child up and left the lobby, moving out of the camera’s view.
Detectives later conducted a welfare check and determined the child did not have any visible injuries. Based on the surveillance footage and other evidence collected during the investigation, detectives obtained a warrant charging Russell with one count of misdemeanor child abuse.
The Rowan County Department of Social Services was notified as part of the investigation.
Russell was arrested July 1 and received a $3,000 secured bond, which has since been posted. She is scheduled to appear in Rowan County District Court on July 30.
