Baby Attacked in Arcata, Placerville's 28-year-old Molly Barnes Arrested

On Wednesday, April 18, 2012, at approximately 12:50 p.m., officers from the Arcata Police Department were dispatched to the 800 block of G Street, on the report of a female causing a disturbance. 

As the officers were arriving, they observed what looked like a fight in progress.  They were advised that the female had kicked and injured a small child. 

The female, 28-year-old Molly Barnes, a transient from the Placerville area, was initially subdued by the child’s father and was then taken into custody by APD officers.  The struggle the officers had observed was Barnes being subdued.

The child, a 16-month-old female, was taken to Mad River Hospital by ambulance.  The child suffered moderate injuries in the assault.  She was treated in the Hospital Emergency Department and released.

Barnes was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for Felony Battery, Child Abuse; Willfully Causing a Corporal Injury to a Child and Probation Violation.

During the course of their investigation, officers learned that just prior to the incident on G Street, Barnes had damaged vehicles at the City of Arcata Intermodal Transit Facility on Ninth Street. The damage caused there was estimated to be over $400.  Barnes was positively identified through the use of video cameras in the area. 

She was additionally booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for a violation of Felony Vandalism and Probation Violation.  She remains in custody.