Mom with child in viral video resolves NJ charges

A New York City woman who was featured in a viral video when she had her baby ripped out of her arms and was arrested at a government office in Brooklyn agreed to do community service to resolve a separate legal case in New Jersey.

Jazmine Headley, 23, appeared in a Mercer County court on a warrant related to a failure to appear in court for an arraignment in connection with credit card theft charges.

A judge told Headley that the charges will be dropped in her credit card fraud case in New Jersey if she successfully completes an intervention program. Judge Peter Warshaw said Headley will have to pay back about $1,000. Her agreement also includes 20 hours of community service.

Headley had been indicted on March 30, 2017, on several charges following her arrest in July 2016 by Lawrence Township police during an investigation into the use of counterfeit credit cards.

In New York, charges were dropped Tuesday in connection with her arrest for refusing to get off of the floor at a food assistance center.

After her release, Headley, 23, told reporters Tuesday night that she was happy to be out of jail and was looking forward to seeing her son. She spent the evening with her child before heading to New Jersey early in the morning.

Police officers on Friday tried to pull the baby from Headley as they wrestled her to the floor. The video prompted outrage as well as lots of questions.

"The consequence this young and desperate mother has already suffered as a result of this arrest far outweigh any conduct that may have led to it: she and her baby have been traumatized, she was jailed on an unrelated warrant and may face additional collateral consequences," wrote Gonzalez.

Nyashia Ferguson, who posted the video Dec. 7 on Facebook under the name Monae Sinclair, told the NY Times that the mother had sat down on the floor of the social services center because of a lack of chairs. A security guard confronted her but she didn't want to move.

The office staff and Human Resources Administration peace officers made unsuccessful attempts to remove the woman "due to her disorderly conduct towards others, and for obstructing the hallway," the NYPD said. The staff then called the police.

The video shows officers dragging the woman across the floor as other officers separate the baby from her. Lying on the floor, she mouths, "I'm begging you, please."

Headley was charged her with resisting arrest, acting in a manner injurious to a child, obstructing governmental administration and criminal trespass. Authorities turned over the toddler to a family member.

With The Associated Press.

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