Chardonnay Through Straw. Woman Claims Misunderstanding. Video Surveillance Allegedly Proves Otherwise. Child Abuse Charge.
BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2021 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A woman dining with her 3-year-old child at Houston’s in Boca Raton is now charged with child abuse after a waitress told police that the woman gave the child wine through a straw.
Police allegedly confirmed the claim by watching surveillance video.
Mireille Guerrier-Williams was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail early Friday morning following the Thursday evening incident.
This is the narrative written by the responding Boca Raton police officer:
On 07/15/21 I responded to the Houston`s Restaurant located at 1900 NW Executive Center Cir in reference to allegations of child abuse. Upon arrival contact was made with the witness who stated that they observed the defendant sitting at booth # 13 with a 3-year-old infant child in her custody and care of her. The defendant and her adult sister both ordered alcoholic beverages, which they were served along with complimentary cups of water (these were the only beverages placed onto the table).
The witness explained that they observed the defendant take the glass containing the alcoholic beverage and place it at the mouth of the child; and by that motion it was believed that the defendant was actually encouraging the child to drink from it, in which the child did. The witness also observed the defendant place a straw into the wine glass (as through creating an easier way for the child to drink), but she walked away from the table and could no longer view what may have occurred next.
The alcoholic beverage within the glass was identified as “ZD WINES Chardonnay” with an alcohol content of 13.5%. I observed the child in the custody and care of the defendant seated at booth #13, the child seemed to be giddy and acting out in a playful manner; which one could believe to be reasonable behavior for a child at that age. Although the child was behaving in a manner that one could believe not unusual for that age, it is not clear how the child would react after the consumption of the alcoholic beverage, or how much the child had consumed.
It is clear that the wrongful and intentional act of providing alcohol to the child had the potential to cause physical or mental harm upon the child, and any reasonable person would expect this act to result in the mental or physical injury of a child of that age.
It is clear that the wrongful and intentional act of providing alcohol to the child had the potential to cause physical or mental harm upon the child, and any reasonable person would expect this act to result in the mental or physical injury of a child of that age. Video surveillance from within the establishment showed the defendant placing the wine glass to the mouth of the child at a device time stamp of 21:29:58 hours and then again at 21:30:11 hours.
After speaking with the sister of the defendant, Nadine Alvarez she stated that she did not observe the child consume any alcohol provided by the defendant. Nadine also gave statements insinuating that if this would have occurred her attention was set towards the waitress and not at the child. Post Miranda the defendant stated that she believes the entire incident to be a misunderstanding, explaining that she and the child were sharing straws (into separate cups), but at no point did she allow the child to consume any alcohol throughout the night. se and taken to Based on the evidence set forth, the defendant was arrested for Child the Palm Beach County Jail without further incident.
Guerrier-Williams was released on her own recognizance Saturday evening. A court date is pending. She lists NE 15th Street in Homestead as her residential address.
LOCAL JOURNALISM SUPPORTER.
