Mom accused of abandoning shoplifting child at Houston grocery store

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Houston mother faced a Harris County judge Friday morning, accused of abandoning her child among other allegations after a bizarre incident at a Foodtown grocery store last Sunday.

Investigators say her actions put the safety of many people at risk, including a peace officer and her own six-year-old child.

Authorities say Bianca Pearce, 31, drove her son to a Foodtown on Kirkwood and allowed him to go into the store alone where he allegedly tried to steal candy.

An off-duty Fort Bend County Sheriff's deputy working security tried to stop the child and prosecutors say Pearce took off without her son and only made the situation worse when she came back for the boy and hit a customer's vehicle and refused to follow the deputy's directions to stop her vehicle

Harris Assistant District Attorney Daniel Werlinger said, "She accelerates upon him, he realizes that she is going to use the vehicle against him. He attempts to draw his duty weapon, but she accelerates way too fast for him to do that and his only choice is to either get run over or get out of the way, and so he chose to get out of the way."

The deputy was injured in the arm and leg as he tried to get away.

Pearce was later arrested. Prosecutors say she was intoxicated and a baby was also in her car.

Prosecutors say CPS has become involved in the case.

Pearce has asked for a court-appointed attorney.