Pinellas Park woman jailed on child abuse charges

PINELLAS PARK -- Police arrested a 27-year-old woman on a felony child abuse charge late Wednesday after they say she dangled her 5-year-old son out the window of a moving SUV.

Witnesses told police Christina L. Adams, left, was seen holding the boy out of the front passenger side of a black 1998 GMC Jimmy about 11:45 p.m.

Witnesses also told police Adams made the boy keep up with the slow-moving SUV by clasping his hand as the car cruised along the 6600 block of 43rd Street N.

Police said the SUV was carrying three adults -- Adams, Ariane Parsons, 23, and driver Joseph West -- and three children -- the 5-year-old victim and two other boys, ages 4 and 10.

When police stopped the vehicle, Adams, of 5875 70th Ave. N, appeared "extremely intoxicated and belligerent towards officers," according to a Pinellas Park police press release. She was booked into the Pinellas County Jail. Bail was set at $5,000.

West, 49, the SUV's driver, was tested for driving under the influence. Police spokesman Capt. Sandy Forseth said West had been drinking, but not enough to file DUI charges.

Reached by phone this morning, West denied the witnesses' version of what happened. He called it "a big misunderstanding."

"It wasn't child abuse," West said. "It was a mistake."

West said he had just left the carnival at the 36th annual Fall Festival at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and was dropping off his friends.

He said they "were at the wrong place at the wrong time."

No other charges have been filed. Forseth said a state attorney's office investigation is under way.

The 5-year-old boy was not injured. All three boys were released to a family member.

Casey Cora, Times staff writer; Pinellas County Jail photo

Comments

[sue]

WHY would they not take the children totally away...this woman didn't learn that behavior from a stranger & God forbid, of course they will try to reintegrate them back with their "poor- judgement" addicted, abusive mother! Yes, they were at the "wrong place, wrong time"...they were caught!!

[John]

White trash on parade.

Yee HAW! That's how they do things in Pinellas Park!

[Dana Robinson]

This child should be removed from their custody altogether and they should be dangled out a moving vehicle. Then we all could say it was a misunderstanding.

[A. J.]

Jus lemme git my false teeth an flip flops! Whoo-hoo tha's how we roll in Da' Park! :)

[Jerry]

Does she have a history of child abuse? If not, she should have been stopped and politely warned, not arrested and making headlines.

I don't remember wearing a seatbelt in the car as a child. I never owned a bike helmet as a child. I climbed trees and monkey bars with no rubber or sandy ground beneath it. I was paddled a few times by both parents. I rode on the back of my dad's truck tailgate a few times. Yes, he was driving slow.

Should I call the cops and tell them how abusive they were? No, because I loved my childhood. It was fun.

This world is getting carried away with safety. No wonder you never see kids playing outside anymore.

[Fla Taxpayer]

So many women in this world would love to have children, but for some reason are unable to. Yet God gives a white trash women like this a child. Sometimes things are just not fair.

[mother of two]

This is to the man, Jerry, that posted the most ignorant comment regarding this story. Did you not read the story? She dangled her son out of a moving car...if that is not child abuse, what is? Any mother doing this should be booked on child abuse charges. I know you are entitled to your opinion, but, come on and get real. We are not living in the 70's anymore!

[Lu]

Horrifying stories such as this one brings the ignorant individuals out of the wood work. The fact that the woman resides in Pinellas Park doesn’t mean a thing. She’s obviously suffering from mental illness and substance abuse. This could have occurred anywhere. Yes, I live on Pinellas Park and have all my life. I have all my teeth. They are straight and white (thanks to braces as child and regular check-ups). I drive a brand new VW Jetta (not an F-150 or Camero), and have a college education. This poor child is going to need therapy to heal from this horrendous ordeal, let’s not make a joke of it. It’s not funny!

[jessi]

I want to know what this lady was thinking. To put a child out of the car it is just not fair. Those poor kids.It's not right it is plain out stupidity.

[over it]

It is sickening to look at this woman's ridculous mugshot and realize that she has BIRTHED A CHILD. Further proving any scumbag idiot can be a mom or dad. This poor child doesnt stand a chance with this "woman" as his mom.

[Mel]

Hey-Isn't that the beer tub girl from Carlies? You know Pinellas Park's classiest spot.

[Fritz]

Who are you kidding Lu? Pinellas Park sucks and deserves the reputation it has. You don't even get these types of stories from Pasco county for crying out loud! I made the mistake of moving to the Park and cannot wait until I move out.

Pinellas Park = the armpit of Pinellas county.

BTW, a University of Phoenix diploma hardly means you are college educated.

[SWLiP]

I hear banjo music.

It's no longer PC to say "white trash."

The proper term now is "pre-manufactured housing dwellers."

[jack]

Yes it is the beer tub girl from Carlie's. And how would you know "Mel" if you didn't frequent the establishment yourself.

[JUST ME]

YOU DO NOT KNOW CHRISSY OR WESLEY. FIND SOMETHING BETTER TO DO THAN JUDGE INNOCENT PEOPLE. JERRY HAS THE RIGHT IDEA. IT'S CALLED AN OPEN MIND. HAVE YOU HEARD CHRISSY'S SIDE OF THE STORY? I'M SURE YOU WILL.

[Shari]

OMG... She's only 27 years old? I'm 42 and don't even have wrinkles on my face. Shows you what hard living does to the body! YUCK !

[Dan]

Fritz, Fritz, Fritz(I used to have dog named that). I think Lu's comment went totally over your head. Child abuse is a global issue, not just a problem in PP, FL. Go back to Germany dumb a**!

never mind the mother,,,,,what about the driver who kept on going(did he need another drink to make him think straight?)

This is for all of the above comments. The child abuse allegation is totally unfounded. Chrissy was NOT dangling her child out the window. By the advice of legal representation I will not elaborate except to say the accuser has his own set of baggage and his story is most likely skewed. A situation occured between the two parties BEFORE the police were called. There were two other SOBER witnesses who can testify to the false report. Also Wesley himself. Five year old children have a hard time lying.

I personally know Wesley and his mother. She does NOT have a history of child abuse. But she does have a history of overcoming obstacles and a fierce determination to make a good life for herself and her son. Actually, she is a remarkable mother/person given the cards she was dealt in life. She plays them well because she doesn't whine, criticize, or judge. She only works hard as a single parent to raise her child.

O.K. she admits to drinking that night. She did not intend to be out late because of Wesley. I will not elaborate.

So for all of you impulsive decision makers, "do - gooders" and "self righteous society cleaner uppers" take a lesson and judge on the facts. Apparently your ability to make an intelligent decision based on the facts seems to be lacking.

I, too, know Chrissy. When I heard what the news was reporting I couldn't believe it. This is an individual that I've known for a long time. What people PERCEIVED happened wasn't the truth. I would like to share those facts with you but I'm not able to --legally.

However, at some point the truth WILL prevail. I have always believed that we lived in a society where people sought out the truth. I believed that CONVICTNG people prior to having all of the facts was a practice from countries other than America.

Chrissy works hard to support a child that she is raising by herself. She tries to be "everything" to this little boy. She believes in the American dream of working hard to provide for her family--Wesley. Instead of being dealt low blows, people in addition to myself should be stepping up and offering her emotional support.

Those of you who have decided to judge her and dole out punishment, I hope there will never be a day in your life when you will experience the horrific onslaught of media single-handedly destroying your life. You should be ashamed of taking on a "Hitler-Mentality."

By the way, in case you have a moment to spare from your slanderous judgmental comments, Wesley is fine.
He loves his mother and she loves him.

[FL danggla]

She gets her moves from Michael Jackson. Youngster Danglers Unite!!!