ARLINGTON, Tenn. — The Department of Children’s Services refused to allow a 17-year-old boy to live with his mother after he told deputies she punched him in the face in front of a neighbor’s home in Arlington.
Memphis Police Detective Laura Prins-Harris made her first court appearance on Monday.
“I find that offensive especially if you’re talking about my wife being a bad cop,” Mario Harris told WREG. “My wife has been on the force 17 years and she got a clean record. She has never been reprimanded for anything.”
However, WREG uncovered Prins-Harris has previously been under investigation.
A police spokesperson said internal affairs looked into a situation involving Prins-Harris, but it was not sustained.
WREG put in a request to review documents in the accused officer’s personnel file.
“I never saw her hit her son,” Chris Harris said. “I’ve never seen her hit her son. I hadn’t seen her get to that point of violence before to take out abuse on a child.”
Neighbors who witnessed the incident said the current charges against Prins-Harris are bogus.
Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong told WREG in a statement:
“These allegations have been taken seriously and an internal investigation is underway. If the investigation reveals any wrongdoing, appropriate administrative action will be taken.”
“There are women out there who are abusive,” said Melissa Farrar with the Exchange Club Family Center.
Farrar said it is not common to find women charged with domestic violence, but when it happens, it is important for the case to be taken seriously.
“For the child to be taken out of the home at this point and time until something else — services are put in place for the mom, as well as the child and for the family, that would be the safest thing,” Farrar explained.
Prins-Harris will be back in court on July 20.