Woman who pulled son, 6, into Walmart brawl charged
INDIANAPOLIS — One of the women involved in the Beech Grove Walmart brawl that was caught on video is now facing charges.
Not for assault, but for engaging her 6-year-old son in the bout.
Amber Stephenson, 34, Indianapolis, was charged Friday with neglect of a dependent and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by The Indianapolis Star, Stephenson allegedly instigated the fight at the Walmart on the night of June 4.
Court documents state Beech Grove Police were dispatched to the store at 10:32 p.m. on a report of a fight between two women.
Responding officers located the two women in the store's health and beauty section. Court documents state the altercation had just ended when police arrived, and the women, later identified as Stephenson and Rebecca Mills, were suffering minor injuries.
Officers took initial statements from Stephenson and Mills, as well as Walmart employees and others who witnessed the fight.
Investigators, as stated in the affidavit, have concluded the brawl went down like this:
Mills, seen in the video cruising the store on a motorized scooter, had become upset with one of the Walmart employees for leaving carts filled with merchandise in the aisle. The employee was restocking the shelves for the next day and was using the carts to move products.
As things escalated between Mills and the employee, Stephenson, who allegedly "came out of nowhere" with her 6-year-old son, stops in the aisle and says to Mills: "You must really hate your life."
Stephenson then leaves the scene but returns minutes later to confront Mills again.
Then what begins as verbal shots traded between the two shoppers intensifies into a fist fight and wrestling match in the aisle.
But Stephenson's not in hot water for the blows she delivered to Mills. She's being charged because she ordered her son to "punch (Mills) in her face … punch her in her (expletive) face," according to the affidavit.
During the skirmish, the child can be seen hitting and kicking Mills in the face and head, court documents state. The child then picks up a shampoo bottle and begins hitting Mills in the face with it.
In a radio interview days after the fight, Stephenson said: "I mean he's a little crazy kid … he's one I don't ever have to worry about being bullied in high school."
Stephenson's contributing to the delinquency of a minor charge is only a misdemeanor, but the neglect of a dependent charge is a felony and could lead to jail time if she's convicted.
In a statement provided to Fox59, Marion County Prosecutor's office officials said they will not be charging Mills because they were more concerned with the "safety and welfare of the child, not choosing sides in what appears to be a mutually combative situation."