Woman pepper sprays household, uses toddler as shield to avoid arrest, NC cops say

A 3-year-old was among the victims when a woman used pepper spray inside a rural North Carolina home, and that same child was later used as a “physical shield” when the suspect tried to avoid arrest, according to investigators in Craven County.

The confrontation happened Tuesday, Feb. 17, when deputies responded to a “disturbance” at a home on J.R. Road near New Bern.

“When deputies arrived, they discovered Samantha Jo Lowdermilk, 22, of the residence had pepper sprayed multiple individuals inside the residence and destroyed property after a dispute,” the Craven County Sheriff’s Office said in a Feb. 19 news release.

“Lowdermilk then attempted to evade arrest by using the 3-year-old child as a physical shield against deputies.”

Investigators did not reveal how the stand-off was resolved, but Lowdermilk was arrested and taken to a hospital for “injuries she sustained stepping on glass she had broken,” the sheriff’s office said.

“EMS responded to the scene to treat the adults and child that were exposed to the pepper spray,” officials said.

Court documents report two adults were also hit in the face with pepper spray at the home and the act was intentional.

Details of a motive were not released and investigators did not say what relationship the victims have to the suspect.

“Following a medical clearance, Lowdermilk was charged with assault on a child under 12, two counts of simple assault, communicating threats, damage to property, and resisting a public officer,” the sheriff’s office said. “The Department of Social Services has been notified.”

New Bern is about a 115-mile drive southeast from downtown Raleigh.