'That's not who she really is'

The family of a woman accused of ramming into four cars, including two police patrol cars, wants the public to be more aware of mental illness. Family members have heard people call the Bessemer City woman crazy, but her cousin, Patty Cecil, says we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

“I think people should know that she’s a good girl. She would never intentionally try to hurt anyone,” she said.

Family members say Debra Lloyd is the woman who blocked traffic Thursday afternoon while driving in circles in a busy Gastonia intersection. Lloyd crashed into four cars and ultimately wrecked her vehicle, overturning it and sliding down a 12-foot embankment.

Witnesses say she was singing “Jesus Loves the Little Children” and, when asked for her name replied, “Faith, hope and love.”

No one was injured, but Lloyd was taken to CaroMont Regional Medical Center for evaluation.

She will be charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, assault with a deadly weapon and three counts of injury to personal property, police have said.

She had not been booked into jail as of Friday afternoon.

‘She thought God was going to heal her’ Lisa Wooten, also Lloyd’s cousin, said Lloyd had recently stopped taking medication for a bipolar disorder. She believed God was going to heal her, Cecil said.

Her family knew Lloyd needed help. Cecil says Lloyd was at her house this week behaving strangely.

The family agreed to seek involuntary commitment, Wooten said. But she said when Lloyd’s husband requested his wife be committed Wednesday, he was denied.

Wooten says they were told because Lloyd was not trying to harm herself or others that she could not be forced into treatment.

There was no other option than to keep an eye on her, Cecil said.

“I told her to go home and park that car, but she said, ‘No, God is going to take care of me,’” Cecil said.

Later that night, Lloyd was arrested for trespassing at her church, First Assembly of God.

Lloyd’s husband hid her car keys, according to the family, but while he was asleep Lloyd found them and took off.

Earlier Thursday, Lloyd had been to her mother’s house to give her some apples. The family heard later she was stopped at the gas station by the intersection where the crashes happened, handing out apples and telling people about Jesus.

They were shocked to learn what had happened.

“We still stand by her 100 percent,” Wooten said. “We know who she really is, and she is not that woman.”

They hope now she will receive the treatment she needs.

Lloyd known to feed homeless: When Lloyd is on treatment is a different woman, Wooten said.

“She’s fun. She’s lovable. She’s energetic,” she said. “She’s very devoted to her church and her family.”

Wooten said her cousin often feeds members of the homeless community and tries to help people in need.

“People really need to see who she is because that’s not her,” she said. “When she’s off of her medicine she doesn’t know what she’s doing.”

They also have a warning for families with a loved one who may be going through the same thing.

“Get them help,” Wooten said. “Fight it as much as possible. It is uncontrollable. If your loved one is fighting this battle, get them help, get them on medication, get them treatment.”

You can reach reporter Lauren Baheri at 704-869-1842 or Twitter @lbaheri.