Ahwatukee mom suspected of giving beer to her toddler told police it was …


Posted: Friday, July 6, 2012 3:16 pm


Ahwatukee mom suspected of giving beer to her toddler told police it was “reverse psychology”

By Diana Martinez
Special to AFN

Ahwatukee Foothills News

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An Ahwatukee woman was arrested Tuesday at a local Peter Piper Pizza after police suspected her of giving her 2-year-old son beer.

Valerie Marie Topete, 36, was later charged with one count of child abuse and, according to Maricopa County Superior Court documents, told police that it was “reverse psychology” because the child kept “reaching for the beer pitcher” at the restaurant.

Police were called to the Peter Piper Pizza near 48th Street and Ray Road at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday when witness said Topete had poured what was believed to be beer from a pitcher into the child’s “sippy” cup, Phoenix Police spokesman James Holmes said.

Topete later admitted to police that she poured “a splash” of beer into her son’s cup, which already contained a small amount of apple juice.

The boy was taken to a nearby hospital after police learned Topete saw her son put his lips to the cup and later fell from his seat, indicating he may have been intoxicated, according to court documents.

“We are happy the child did not seem to be physically injured or ill after the medical examination,” Holmes said.

The father of the boy and the boy’s two siblings, ages 4 and 8, had also been at the restaurant, and the boy was later released to his father’s care.

“This was just not a very smart thing to do, we hope there is a lesson learned from this,” Holmes said.

• Diana Martinez is freelancing this summer for the Ahwatukee Foothills News. Reach her at thedianamartinez@gmail.com. Follow on Twitter @_dianamartinez

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