MacKenzie Elmer

melmer@dmreg.com

A 74-year-old baby sitter was arrested Monday for allegedly slapping the child she was watching after the child's mother said she couldn't pay the woman more money.

Police arrived at the Oakridge apartment complex on Oakridge Drive just before 10 p.m., responding to an argument about child care. Asha Raith Fadeit of Des Moines was outside the building among several people who were yelling.

Fadeit, speaking through a neighbor who translated, claimed the mother of the child she was watching ripped out the window of her apartment and assaulted her. But police didn't believe her story, according to a police report.

The argument started after Fadeit confronted the mother about leaving her son alone for hours during the day. Because Fadeit was watching him, she wanted to be paid, Fadeit told police.

But the mother said when she went to pick up her son at Fadeit's apartment on Monday, Fadeit wouldn't let him leave until the mother gave her more money. She wanted $50, the mother said, but the mother already paid her $40 and didn't have more, the report states.

Fadeit wouldn't open the door of the apartment and the two started arguing through the window. The mother called to her son, asking him to run out of the door if it opened. But when the boy tried, Fadeit allegedly slapped the boy across the mouth.

The boy ran once more at the door and successfully escaped. That's when Fadeit allegedly broke out the screen of the window and jumped outside to grab the boy by the coat.

She grabbed the mother's arm, and police could see the mark that left. The boy also had a cut to his upper lip.

After an investigating both sides of the story, police decided Fadeit's story didn't make sense.

She was arrested for child endangerment causing serious injury and booked into the Polk County Jail. Fadeit has already been released on bond, however.