Police arrest Newton woman for neglect after child fell from second-story window

Police have arrested the mother of a child who had fallen from a second-story window at a Newton apartment complex less than two weeks ago.

Angelia Varner, 35, of Newton was arrested and charged with child neglect, a Class C felony, on Aug. 25. According to a press release from Newton Police Department, officers and paramedics had responded to a report of a young child who fell from a window at 6:52 p.m. Aug. 14 at Woodland Heights Apartments.

The child survived the fall with non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the emergency room at MercyOne Newton Medical Center. Police investigated the incident with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. Both determined the window was left open with a significantly torn screen.

Witnesses told authorities that the child had fallen through the open window to the ground below while the mother was outside the building in the parking lot.