PEORIA, Ariz. — The mom accused of driving her vehicle through a Peoria park and harming a child feels regretful about the whole situation, according to her husband.
Brandie Gotch, 30, was arrested this week after she confronted a group of kids at a neighborhood park Tuesday afternoon over alleged bullying. After yelling at the kids, witnesses observed the mom "recklessly" drive through the park and run over a girl's leg, court records show.
Mark Ullery, the suspect's husband, told 12News people are "grossly blowing this out of proportion."
“She did not try and run the kid over, she did not try and do anything of the sort," he told 12News.
Ullery said the situation was the result of schools not effectively addressing their family's concerns of bullying.
"I feel that if the school would be held accountable for their actions, and actually would tolerate a zero tolerance, bullying atmosphere, then this could have 100% (been) avoided," he said.
In an interview with police, Gotch said when she drove up to the park, she believed the group of kids were bullying her child.
Though Tuesday's incident resulted in a child getting hurt, Goth's husband claims she wasn't aware her vehicle allegedly struck someone and she feels "grossly mortified."
“She said that all the tensions were high. She didn't intend on hurting anybody," the husband said. "And it was just mishandled and a very poor matter. But this this is not my wife, she is, like I said, she's not an abusive person.”
The mother of four was booked into jail and could be facing charges of aggravated assault against a minor and endangerment.
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