LEEDS, Ala. — A Leeds woman was arrested after police accused her of spraying her two children in the face with bear spray, according to multiple reports.
Police identified the woman as Christie Lashay Williams. The reports say the alleged incident happened on March 8, and the children were taken for treatment after being exposed to the spray. Williams was later charged with child abuse and torture, according to those reports.
Bear spray is a type of pepper spray made for use against aggressive wildlife, and it is sometimes discussed in protests or self-defense contexts because it can incapacitate a person without being a firearm. Even so, it can cause intense pain, temporary blindness, breathing trouble and other injuries, which is why using it against another person can lead to serious criminal charges depending on the circumstances and state law.
Williams was arrested on April 6 and later released on bond while the case continues.