Citizen’s child abuse tip leads to Anderson woman’s arrest

ANDERSON — A citizen’s tip reporting a case of suspected child abuse led to the arrest of two people at an Anderson motel Tuesday, Oct. 8. One of the two alleged suspects was arrested for child abuse and drug related charges after the incident, which happened at Motel 6, at 2861 McMurry Dr., just north of Balls Ferry Rd.

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City of Anderson police officers were dispatched to the motel shortly after 7 p.m., after receiving a citizen’s tip of suspected child abuse happening at the location.

“The reporting party informed dispatch that a woman was seen possibly assaulting her child outside a motel room,” Anderson PD officials said in a social media release.

Gina Harper was arrested after a concerned citizen called 911 to report suspected child abuse happening at an Anderson motel. Investigating officers found the woman’s motel room in “deplorable conditions” and located methamphetamine and drug-related paraphernalia within the juvenile’s reach. APD photo

When officers arrived at the motel they located and contacted Gina Harper, 53, of Anderson, as well as the alleged juvenile victim, standing near their motel room.

During their initial contact with Harper, officers observed that she “displayed objective signs of recent CNS Stimulant use and was detained as a result,” said APD officials.

After Harper consented to a search of her motel room, officers discovered 5.8 grams of methamphetamine, methamphetamine pipes, and alcohol, “all of which were accessible to the juvenile,” officials explained.

Additionally, “the room was in deplorable conditions with food, trash, and dog feces on the floor,” according to officials.

As their investigation continued, officers reviewed surveillance footage of the initially reported suspected child abuse and observed Harper assaulting the juvenile, as had been reported.

During the investigation, a male subject later identified as Martin Gile, 55, of Redding – who claimed to be in a relationship with Harper – arrived at the location inquiring about the incident.

Officers soon learned Gile had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant for his arrest.

Based on their investigation, officers arrested Harper and she was later booked into Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of felony child endangerment, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Gile was arrested on his misdemeanor warrant. He was later cited and released.

At the conclusion of their investigation, Shasta County CFS was contacted and took the juvenile into their care and protective custody.

After the arrests, Anderson PD thanked the concerned citizen for reporting the incident “in a timely manner.”

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.