An Indianapolis woman faces two felony charges after police say a disagreement over her toddler playing with a toy inside a children’s resale store escalated into threats with a handgun.
Tamya Staten, 21, had gone to a Once Upon a Child store on West 86th Street on July 16 to sell children’s clothing, according to court records described by FOX59.
While employees processed the items, Staten’s toddler began playing with a small motorized car. An employee told Staten that children were not allowed to play with the store’s toys, and Staten initially responded, “okay.”
The child continued playing. When the employee approached Staten again about the policy, the encounter took a much different turn.
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Court documents say Staten pulled a large black handgun from her purse and placed it in her leggings before poking an employee in the face with her finger and making threats.
“We can fight about it. We can get down,” Staten allegedly told the employee. “I can use this [gun].”
The confrontation continued, and Staten eventually pulled the handgun from her leggings and pointed it toward employees, according to the charging allegations.
She then allegedly encouraged her toddler to continue playing with the motorized toy and showed the child how it worked.
No shots were fired, and the available reports indicate no one was injured. The store later told WTHR that employees took steps to protect customers and staff and that it was thankful nobody was hurt.
Easy To Trace
Before Staten left, she put the handgun back into her leggings and picked up her child. Store surveillance reportedly captured the confrontation and Staten leaving in a 2011 Jeep Patriot.
Police had more than the video to work with.
Because Staten had come to the store to sell clothing, she had already provided employees with identification. Police also obtained the Jeep’s license plate number from the surveillance footage, and an employee later identified Staten during the investigation.
More than two months after the encounter, prosecutors filed two charges against Staten in Marion Superior Court 31 on Sept. 29: intimidation with a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony, and pointing a firearm at another person, a Level 6 felony.
An arrest warrant was subsequently issued for Staten. Local reporting through Oct. 1 indicated that the warrant remained active, with no reported plea or attorney appearing for her in the case.