VALDOSTA – Officers check on the well-being of a mother and her infant child, only to find the mother in a mental crisis while possessing a knife.

Release:

Officers respond to check on the well-being of a mother and her infant child, only to find the mother in a mental crisis while possessing a knife.

On January 25, 2026, at 8:00 pm. Valdosta Police Officers responded to an apartment in the 1500 block of East Park Avenue to assist the Lowndes County Department of Family and Children Services in checking on the well-being of a 39-year-old female and her three-month-old infant. Officers knocked on the front door and identified themselves as police officers when the mother asked who was at the door.

While waiting for her to open the door, officers could see the mother through a kitchen window. The mother had the small infant in a baby carrier attached to her chest. She had a large kitchen knife and was waving it around; at times, the knife was very close to the baby. The mother refused to unlock and open the door. As officers talked to her and tried to get her to drop the knife, she began striking the window with it, while telling officers that if they came inside, they would get hurt.

Officers surrounded the apartment and continued to speak with her, trying to get her to drop the knife. Officers saw the mother moving the knife in a threatening manner toward the baby’s head and neck, as well as her own neck. She continued to make incoherent statements and appeared to be in a mental crisis.

As officers were trying to monitor her movements and distract her, they saw her put the knife down and walk away from it. When officers saw her walk away from the knife, they immediately forced their way into the house and quickly controlled the mother. Officers grabbed the infant, and they did not see any injuries. South Georgia Medical Emergency Medical Services arrived to evaluate the baby and ensured there were no injuries.

Officers detained the mother, and due to her erratic behavior, they transported her to the hospital to be mentally evaluated and receive treatment. The Department of Family and Children Services took custody of the infant.

“Our officers did another outstanding job during an extremely tense situation. Incidents like this are extremely stressful, but when small children are involved, it adds more stress to the officers. Many of them have small children as well, but they must put their feelings and emotions aside to get the job done,” said Chief Leslie Manahan. “They quickly developed a plan and executed it perfectly, ensuring that neither the baby nor the mother was injured.”

The case is still under investigation.