Atwater woman arrested on suspicion of child abuse

An Atwater woman was arrested earlier this week on suspicion of child abuse after she allegedly assaulted one of her children while damaging other things inside her home, the Police Department reported.

Jennifer R. Reyna, 31, is accused of assaulting her 9-year-old daughter with a wooden stepladder. Investigators believe she threw the approximately 6-foot tall ladder, striking the child, Lt. Samuel Joseph said.

The child suffered an injury described by police as serious, but not life-threatening. The girl was taken to an area hospital for treatment, police said.

Police responded some time before midnight Thursday to the area of Oak Avenue and Linden Street to investigate a vandalism complaint. Residents in the area told police Reyna was causing a noisy disturbance, officers said.

She was found “hiding in the bushes” in front a home on Linden Street and was described by police as “extremely intoxicated.”

Police said her home was cluttered and signs of damage were present. Two 9-year-old children and a 4-year-old child were present in the home. Two of the children told police Reyna was “acting crazy” and “breaking things,” Joseph said.

All three children were placed in the custody of Child Protective Services.

Reyna was booked at the Merced County jail on suspicion of child endangerment with possible injury. She remained in custody Friday on $100,000 bail, according to booking records.

This story was originally published September 4, 2015 at 5:42 PM with the headline "Atwater woman arrested on suspicion of child abuse."