Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
A woman is receiving a mental health evaluation after bizarre situation Tuesday evening in the Oxford Valley Mall.
The strange incident all started around 5:30 p.m. when police were called to the mall for a possible drowning. It was quickly determined there was no drowning, but witnesses reported concerns about how a young girl with the woman was being treated.
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Middletown Chief of Police Joseph Bartorilla said officers learned the woman was in the mall with her 4-year-old niece when she wrapped her in a blanket and began chanting. At some point, the woman may have poured water on the girl.
“She told us it was some sort of Wiccan ritual,” the chief said.
Witness Ciara Santiago told LevittownNow.com the woman was dragging the little girl by a leash on the ground as she left the mall near the food court exit.
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“The girl was soaking wet,” said Levittown resident Inez Waugh, another witness.
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Santiago said the girl had some visible scrapes and didn’t want to go with her aunt when bystanders talked to her. However, the aunt began cursing at Santiago when she tried to get the girl away until police arrived.
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The witnesses said the girl appeared dirty and her aunt, who they initially thought was her mother, was in a state of disarray.
“It was horrible,” Waugh said.
Bartorilla explained that the girl was taken to St. Mary Medical Center for evaluation and had only minor scrapes.
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“Obviously the aunt needs some intervention,” Middletown’s top cop said.
Officers were unable to get a hold of the girl’s mother, but called her grandmother to the scene.
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No charges were expected to be filed as of Tuesday evening.
Bucks County Children and Youth were planning an investigation. Bartorilla said his officers will offer any assistance they can.
