Port Charlotte woman arrested, accused of slapping, pushing child to the ground

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. —

A Port Charlotte woman was arrested after being accused of child abuse on Thursday morning.

According to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office arrest report, deputies responded to a home at around 12:57 a.m. in reference to reports of child abuse.

The victim told them that Sandra Murrell, 45, began drinking around 6 p.m. and eventually passed out on the hallway floor.

At around 12:30 a.m., the victim heard Murrell take a child and the family puppy out for a walk. The victim followed Murrell, who told the victim to go back home.

When the victim refused, Murrell slapped the victim, pulled their hair, and pushed them to the ground, the report states. Murrell then hit the victim multiple times on the ground and choked them.

Deputies saw redness on the side of the victim's face, scratch marks on their neck and scrapes on their right knee, according to the arrest report.

Deputies spoke with Murrell, who told them she took the dog for a walk so it could use the bathroom and took the child because they had been awake due to a long nap in the afternoon.

Murrell told deputies that the victim followed her, refused to go home, and began attacking Murrell. Murrell said she then pushed the victim to the ground.

According to the report, Murrell admitted to having one glass of premixed margarita; however, the victim said Murrell had a full bottle of mango margarita.

Murrell was arrested and faces a charge of child abuse without great bodily harm.

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