A WATSONVILLE WOMAN WAS ARRESTED LAST WEEK ON CHILD ABUSE CHARGES. 18 YEAR OLD BARBARA GARCIAWAS ARRESTED THURSDAY EVENING. THE ARREST WAS THE RESULT OF A POLICE INVESTIGATION, PROMPTED BY ACALL FROM A NEIGHBOR ON THE 500 BLOCK OF CALIFORNIA STREET EARLIER THAT AFTERNOON. THE NEIGHBOR HADHEARD SOUNDS OF A WOMAN HITTING A CHILD. WHEN POLICE ARRIVED, THE 15 MONTH OLD GIRLWAS UNCONSCIOUS WITH BRUISING ON THE FACE. SHE WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH A TRAUMATIC HEAD INJURY. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, ANOTHER NEIGHBOR APPROACHED OFFICERS WITH A CELLPHONE VIDEO, TAKEN THE DAY BEFORE OF GARCIA BEATING THE CHILD. GARCIA WAS BOOKED INTO SANTA CRUZ COUNTY JAIL
