DAD ALLEGEDLY THREW GARLIC AT POLICE WHILE SPRAYING CHILD WITH COLOGNE — MOM ACCUSED OF BITING OFFICERS DURING CHAOTIC HOME RESPONSE

A disturbing call about suspected child abuse led police to a chaotic scene inside a North Carolina home, where officers allegedly found blood, broken furniture, dangerous objects and four children living amid extensive destruction. But the situation took an even more alarming turn when the children’s parents allegedly began attacking the officers who had responded to check on the family.

Gabriel Antonio Santos-Funes, 35, and Maria Valladares, 33, were arrested following the October 21 incident at their home in Charlotte, according to police and court documents cited by Law&Crime.

Both parents face four counts of misdemeanor child abuse, resisting a public officer and assault on a government official. Valladares also faces an additional charge of malicious conduct by a prisoner, stemming from allegations that she spat at officers and inside a police vehicle.

The case began when a concerned neighbor contacted authorities about disturbing activity inside the residence. What officers reportedly encountered when they arrived raised serious concerns about the safety and well-being of the couple’s four children, who were ages 14, 11, 5 and 3.

Neighbor Reports Screaming and Possible Abuse

According to a probable cause affidavit, officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department were dispatched to a residence in the 8200 block of Mahogany Drive at approximately 9:37 p.m. on October 21.

The neighbor reportedly described loud screaming, burning objects and what they believed were black magic rituals taking place inside the home. The caller also expressed concern about the mother, saying her face appeared black and purple and suggesting she may have been abused.

As officers approached the property, they reportedly heard screaming and saw objects being thrown inside the house.

The scene outside was already troubling. Investigators said live and spent .22-caliber cartridges, broken objects and droplets of blood were scattered along the path leading to the front porch.

When officers entered the residence, they allegedly found extensive damage throughout the home.

According to the affidavit, nearly every piece of furniture and decoration had been destroyed. Broken glass and sharp objects were scattered around the house, while large knives and blowtorch-style lighters were reportedly left within easy reach.

The condition of the residence raised immediate concerns because four children, including two as young as 5 and 3, were living there.

Father Allegedly Sprayed Child With Cologne

Police said the parents initially offered conflicting explanations for the damage. They reportedly told officers they had been cleaning before later claiming that other people had entered the home and caused the destruction.

During the encounter, Santos-Funes allegedly began behaving erratically. According to the affidavit, he attempted to rub garlic on responding officers and on a Bible.

While the father was allegedly engaging in this behavior, Valladares reportedly became increasingly agitated and began speaking rapidly.

The situation grew more concerning when Santos-Funes allegedly began excessively spraying one of the children with cologne.

Officers also reported that he moved toward a large butcher knife on the kitchen table, prompting them to order him away from the weapon.

Amid the confusion, one of the children reportedly told police that she was not okay and was scared to be in the home.

That statement became a particularly troubling moment in the encounter, as officers were already confronting a damaged residence, dangerous objects and escalating behavior from the adults responsible for the children’s care.

Authorities have not publicly detailed every allegation underlying the four child-abuse counts. However, the conditions described in the affidavit and the events witnessed by officers formed part of the case against the parents.

Garlic Allegedly Thrown at Officers as Situation Escalates

The confrontation intensified when Santos-Funes allegedly began throwing cloves of garlic at an officer.

According to police, an officer moved to detain him. Valladares then allegedly intervened by grabbing the officer around the neck.

Both parents reportedly resisted arrest and assaulted officers during the struggle.

The affidavit further alleges that Valladares attempted to bite an officer on the leg while police were trying to handcuff her husband.

What had begun as a welfare check following a neighbor’s report had turned into a violent confrontation involving multiple officers and two adults who were now facing criminal charges.

Police eventually managed to take the parents into custody and move them outside to their patrol vehicles.

But according to investigators, the alleged behavior continued even after Valladares was removed from the home.

She reportedly spat at officers and repeatedly spat inside a police vehicle, leading to the additional charge of malicious conduct by a prisoner.

Four Children at the Center of the Investigation

The four children identified in the case were ages 14, 11, 5 and 3. Their presence in the home was a major concern given the destruction, reported blood and broken glass, and the potentially dangerous objects that officers said they encountered.

The affidavit described a residence in which sharp items and other hazards were accessible, raising questions about the children’s safety before police arrived.

One child’s reported statement that she felt unsafe at home added to those concerns.

Authorities have not publicly released further details about where the children were taken after the arrests or what arrangements were made for their ongoing care. Their identities have also not been released in the reporting cited by Law&Crime.

The allegations against the parents remain criminal accusations, and the charges do not by themselves establish guilt. The case will proceed through the court system as authorities address the alleged abuse and the confrontation with police.

Parents Face Multiple Charges

Santos-Funes and Valladares were booked into the Mecklenburg County jail following their arrests.

Records cited by Law&Crime also indicate that both were placed under immigration detainers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Authorities had not established from the available records whether either parent was legally present in the United States.

The couple is scheduled to appear in court again on November 13.

The investigation began with a neighbor’s concern about what was happening behind closed doors. By the time officers left the residence, the incident had become a criminal case involving allegations of child abuse, dangerous conditions inside a family home and assaults on law enforcement officers.

For investigators, the priority now is determining the full circumstances surrounding the reported events and ensuring the children’s safety as the case moves forward.

Source: Law&Crime