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Written by: E. George
Published October 31, 2024 @ 2:05 PM ET
Warning: The following story contains information regarding alleged physical violence against/neglect of children.
GORDON COUNTY, Ga. – On August 20, 2024, Calhoun police officers arrested a 52-year-old Dalton woman after multiple reports of her allegedly neglecting a toddler at a Circle K gas station. Margaret Theodoora Pruitt was charged with first-degree child cruelty for an hours-long incident involving a two-year-old girl.
Officers initially responded to the location regarding an intoxicated female; however, Pruitt consented to an “alco-sensor breath test” and registered a .000, showing she was not under the influence. She explained that she was the child’s grandmother and had been caring for her since her mother was detained at Gordon County Jail.
Pruitt said they had been staying at a nearby hotel and were stuck at the gas station for hours since her van ran out of gas. She added that the hotel informed her that their room was no longer available.
The officers ran her identification and tag information and determined that the 2009 Chrysler did not have insurance. They informed her that it was illegal for her to operate the vehicle without valid auto insurance and instructed her to call someone to retrieve her and her granddaughter.
They noted repeatedly telling Pruitt to “watch her granddaughter better” because “she was going too close to Highway 41 and into the store and around the dumpster in the back by herself.”
Later that day, they were called back to the Circle K to conduct a welfare check on the child, who was reported “in the van outside for hours.” The employees said the pair had been at the store for at least six hours.
Witnesses reported seeing the young girl running barefoot through the store, saying she was hungry. A witness picked up the child to bring her to Pruitt, who was in the restroom, and she immediately smelled feces.
She “asked her how long it had been since she pooper her pants,” but she could not get an answer. She later told an officer that it was before their initial visit.
The officers observed that her “pants had black and brown stains down to her knees” and asked Pruitt if she had a change of clothing, which she did. While Pruitt was changing the child’s clothes in the bathroom, a DFCS employee arrived and took custody of the girl.
After handcuffing Pruitt, the officers transported her to the Gordon County Jail without incident. Cherokee Auto Salvage arrived and towed the suspect’s vehicle.
This case is pending in court.
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On 08-19-2024 at approximately 0000 hours, Officer Shelton and I responded to 1310 HWY 41 (Circle K) in reference to an intoxicated female with a child. On arrival I met with the female identified as Margaret Pruitt, DOB [REDACTED], as in the store with the child identified as [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. Ms. Pruitt stated she was [REDACTED BY AGENCY] grandmother, that her mom was in Gordon County jail, and that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had been staying with her. I asked Ms. Pruitt where she had been staying, and she stated that they were staying at OYO Hotel Calhoun 689 Chatsworth RD NE and that she had been at Circle K since 2200 hours when she had run out of gas. Ms. Pruitt stated that she called the OYO Hotel back and that their room was no longer available.
I got Ms. Pruitt’s ID and ran it through dispatch, and her tag displayed [REDACTED]. Gordon County 911 advised that there were no warrants and that the tag [REDACTED] showed a 2009 Chrysler van without insurance. Officer Shelton asked Ms. Pruitt if she had been drinking, and she stated she hadn’t. Officer Shelton asked Ms. Pruitt if she would blow into an alco-sensor breath test to ensure she wasn’t under the influence. The test showed .000 that she was not under the influence. Officer Shelton and I stated that she didn’t have insurance on the van and couldn’t drive it on the road unless she could show of of insurance on the van. Officer Shelton and I told her that she should try to call someone to get her and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and told her to talk to the manager of Circle K about maybe leaving the van there until she could get insurance on it. Officer Shelton had to repeatedly tell Ms. Pruitt that she needed to watch her granddaughter, [REDACTED BY AGENCY], better and that she was going too close to HWY 41 and into the store and around the dumpster in the back by herself.
On 08-20-2024, at approximately 0146 hours, Officer Shelton and I responded to 1310 HWY 41 (Circle K) for the second time. This was in reference to a welfare check on a kid who had been in the van outside for hours. Gordon County 911 advised Officer Sheldon and I that it would be the same subject involved in our previous call at Circle K 1310 HWY 41. On arrival, I met with the store employee [WITNESS #1], DOB [REDACTED]). Ms. [WITNESS #1] advised me that she came in to work at 2200 hours, and the employee before her told her that Ms. Pruitt and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] has been there for six hours.
Ms. [WITNESS #1] stated that granddaughter [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had been in the store running barefoot, saying she was hungry. Ms. [WITNESS #1] state she picked [REDACTED BY AGENCY] up to carry her to Ms. Pruitt, who was in the bathroom, and as Ms. [WITNESS #1] was holding [REDACTED BY AGENCY], she smelled poop. Ms. [WITNESS #1] sat [REDACTED BY AGENCY] down on a stool and asked her how long it had been since she pooped her pants. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] never gave Ms. [WITNESS #1] an answer, but she told Officer Shelton that it was before we were dispatched the first time at 0000 hours. I observed [REDACTED BY AGENCY]’s pants had black and brown stains down to her knees. I asked Ms. Pruitt if she had a change of clothes in the van for [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and she stated she did.
Officer Sheldon told Ms. Pruitt to go out and get clothes and get her change right now. I then contacted Stg Phillips and advised him about the situation. Stg Phillips stated he would be en route. Stg Phillips arrived on the scene and advised me to contact on-call DFCAS. I spoke with the on-call DFCAS and informed her of situation. She said she would have a case worker en route. While Ms. Pruitt was in the bathroom changing [REDACTED BY AGENCY] a female named [REDACTED], DOB [REDACTED] who is [REDACTED BY AGENCY] aunt, arrived on the scene because Ms. Pruitt contacted her to come to get Ms. Pruitt and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] before our arrival the second time.
Ms. Pruitt and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] then exited the bathroom, and Ms. [REDACTED] went inside the store and stayed with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] while I placed Ms. Pruitt under arrest. Ms. Pruitt walked outside of the store. I then advised her she was under arrest to put her hands behind her back, where I placed handcuffs on Ms. Pruitt’s wrist behind her back and checked for fit and double locked. I searched Ms. Pruitt’s incident to arrest and walked her to the marked patrol vehicle. Ms. Pruitt had a hard time trying to get in the patrol vehicle. Officer Sheldon observed this. I advised Officer Sheldon that Ms. Pruitt wanted to be able to pull up on the handle to get into the marked patrol vehicle. Officer Sheldon Asked Sgt Phillips If I could handcuff Ms. Pruitt to the front so she could pull herself up in the marked vehicle. Sgt Phillip stated that would be fine.
I then moved the handcuffs to the front of Ms. Pruitt, checked for fit, and double locked. Ms. Pruitt could pull up and sit in the back of the marked patrol vehicle. I advised Gordon County I needed a wrecker for the blue van tag displayed ([REDACTED]). Officer Sheldon did a vehicle inventory sheet of the van. A female DFCAS worker named [REDACTED] DOB [REDACTED], arrived. Ms. [REDACTED] spoke with Sgt. Phillips and Ms. Pruitt. Ms. Pruitt stated she didn’t care if [REDACTED BY AGENCY] went with Ms. [REDACTED]. Ms. [REDACTED] then spoke with Ms. [REDACTED], and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was turned over to Ms. [REDACTED]. Officer Sheldon and I transported Ms. Pruitt to the Gordon County Jail with no incident, and Ms. Pruitt was turned over to jail staff for booking for cruelty to children in the first degree.
I took warrants out for cruelty to children in the first degree.
Cherokee Auto Salvage towed the van.
[End of Narrative]