Sonora couple arrested after assault on officers
Police asked to check on the welfare of a 5-month-old baby ended up arresting the infant’s parents after officials say the couple attacked officers.
According to a news release, officers were at the Inns of California, following up on a separate incident, when the hotel’s staff asked them to check on the baby, “whose parents appeared to be intoxicated and possibly unable to care for the child.”
Officers went to the room occupied by Christopher Teter and Cristin Teter, both identified as Sonora transients. Christopher Teter invited officers into the room.
As police spoke with the couple, Cristin Teter charged one of the two officers and tried to hit her, officials said. As the officers restrained Cristin Teter, Christopher Teter tried to pull them off her.
“The officers then turned their attention to Christopher and attempted to place him in handcuffs,” police said in the news release. “While wrestling with Christopher and attempting to restrain him, Cristin removed one officer’s baton from his duty belt and starting hitting him with it. At this point, Cristin was pepper-sprayed, ending her attack, after she had struck the officer two to three times with the baton.”
Officers placed both adults in handcuffs. Cristin Teter “continued being combative and damaged a patrol car while being placed inside it,” police said. Cristin Teter was arrested on felony charges of assault on an officer with a deadly weapon, resisting an officer with force and violence, taking a non-firearm weapon from an officer and child endangerment.
Christopher Teter was booked on felony child endangerment, misdemeanor obstructing an officer and an outstanding warrant. Both were booked into the Tuolumne County jail.
One officer suffered minor injuries in the incident.
Police took the baby into protective custody and turned the child over to Child Welfare Services.
This story was originally published March 19, 2015 at 4:51 PM with the headline "Sonora couple arrested after assault on officers."