MARGATE, FLA. (WSVN) - Margate Police has released never-before-seen footage of their arrest of a mother whose child was later reported missing after not being seen in months.
Last month, officers stopped Passha Davis near State Road 7 and told her they were investigating a shoplifting case that had occurred at the Dollar Tree across the street and had a description of a possible subject.
As they stopped her, police say she was trying to hide what appears to be stolen items from the store.
Footage captures Davis standing handcuffed in front of a police cruiser as she speaks to the officers.
During the interaction, Davis repeatedly asks the officers why she is being detained, and she wants to know the law and more information on the incident.
Video shows officers explaining the process to her. They ask her for her name, which she refuses to give.
“Do you have ID on you?” asked police.
“No, actually someone stole it at the bus terminal yesterday,” said Davis.
“I do need to gather your information,” an officer says.
“Without even making sure if I’m even the person?” said Davis.
“Uh, you matched it…” said the officer.
“I was not at the scene. Whatever you’re saying, I’m not there,” said Davis.
“OK,” said the officer.
“You’re picking a random person based on [a description.] That’s not fair. No, I’m not giving you my information,” said Davis.
“I’m picking you because you match the description to the tee, including the orange socks,” said the officer.
Officers say they saw Davis trying to hide some of the stolen merchandise.
Another video shows a female officer conducting a pat-down of Davis.
“I’m going to do a pat down, and we’re going to move on with our lives. Since she’s refusing to identify herself, which is a crime,” said the officer.
Dollar Tree decided not to pursue any charges for the alleged shoplifting.
But officers still arrested Davis following their chat and charged her with resisting without violence and false identification while being lawfully detained.
Days after her arrest, authorities issued a Missing Endangered notice for Davis’ 10-year-old daughter, Gabrielle Patricia Terrelonge. The child had last been seen in June.
Police say the child’s father learned about Davis’ arrest and became worried about his daughter, telling officers that Davis was her “sole caretaker.”
When asked about her daughter while behind bars, authorities say Davis said she had no idea and that the child should be with her father.
But the child wasn’t with anyone, and as of Thursday afternoon, no one knows where the child is.
Davis was additionally charged with child neglect.
“And despite different law enforcement agencies trying to find the child, nobody’s able to find the child?” said a Broward judge during her hearing.
“As of, your honor, my understanding as of now, including the FBI, the child is still missing,” said the assistant state attorney.
Authorities have now partnered with the FBI to gather more information about Terrelonge.
Anyone with information about Gabrielle’s whereabouts is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov, or call the Margate Police Department at 954-972-7111 or 911.
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