17-05-2025
South Bend mom accused of hurting her child at zoo; charged with domestic battery felonies
A South Bend woman was charged with the domestic battery of her child after police say witnesses informed them about the child getting injured at the Potawatomi Zoo.
Angel Shidaker, 41, was charged by the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's office on May 16 with a level five felony of domestic battery involving the bodily injury of a person under 14 years old with the defendant over 18 years old, a level six felony of domestic battery with bodily injury of a person under 14 years old and a Class A misdemeanor of domestic battery.
The South Bend Police Department responded to the Potawatomi Zoo around 1:10 p.m., May 15 on the report of a woman assaulting her child, finding Shidaker and her 4-year-old child in a bathroom, the department said in a May 16 press release. Shidaker told police her child — who she described as a runner — ran away and fell down when she said it was time to leave the zoo, police said. Police said Shidaker informed responding officers that she "slapped her child on the bottom."
Witnesses reportedly told officers they saw Shidaker pick up and slam her child on the ground and scream at her child before hitting the kid on the ground behind bushes, the department said. An officer observed dirt on the child's arms and legs, small red spots on the back of their head and possible swelling and bruise near the kid's temple, police said.
As of Friday, Shidaker was being held at the St. Joseph County Jail, according to an online jail log. An initial hearing and bail amount had not yet been set, public court records on MyCase IN said.
Email Tribune staff writer Camille Sarabia at csarabia@
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend mom charged with domestic battery of 4-year-old child
