A Florida woman was arrested after she allegedly drove her car toward a group of children playing outside and said she was using them as “target practice.”
Pamela Dresser allegedly drove her 1998 Mazda B2000 pickup truck at the group of kids in front of an apartment complex in Cocoa on June 7, according to an affidavit viewed by People.
The children’s mother told police that Dresser, 59, swerved toward the children before she went to a parking lot and did several “donuts.”
“Yes, I did try to run your f***ing children over,” Dresser allegedly said, per the affidavit.
Dresser was arrested that same day and was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, four counts of child abuse and two counts of corruption by threat against a public servant.
The alleged incident took place just before 7 p.m. when officers were called to Rosa L. Jones Drive regarding a disturbance.
Officers said that Dresser was in a “highly agitated state” when she spoke to them, while a witness told them that Dresser “swerved” her vehicle toward the children playing outside.
Dresser denied swerving her truck at the children and instead claimed she “made a wide turn” in an attempt to avoid hitting a yellow cart on the side of the road.
She told police that once she drove past the children, she “operated her vehicle in a dangerous manner commonly referred to as a ‘donut.’” She then drove to the apartment complex, where she parked and got out of her vehicle.
A witness later confronted Dresser and asked why she tried to hit the children. Dresser then allegedly made the comment that the kids were her “target practice” and said it “was a joke.”
As the officers prepared to talk to witnesses, Dresser allegedly said that she would soon be delivering “a special present” to the officers and said that it was a “threat.”
Following the comment, Dresser was arrested and taken to police headquarters for processing.
Once Dresser was away from the crime scene, officers spoke to the witness and said Dresser caused all of the children to run toward the house as she drove toward them.
“What are you doing?” the witness recalled asking Dresser, and the defendant reportedly responded by giving the other woman the middle finger and yelling a racial slur.
The woman later confronted Dresser about the incident, and she allegedly said, “Yes, I did try to run your f***ing children over.”
Dresser is currently in custody at the Brevard County Jail on a $250,000 bond, according to online jail records viewed by Us Weekly. Her next court hearing is scheduled to take place on July 2.
It is not currently clear if Dresser has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following her arrest. The Cocoa Police Department did not immediately respond to Us‘ request for comment regarding the case.
