Woman charged with attack on father at Berkeley playground
Kelly Moy, described by police as a 49-year-old homeless woman, was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment and attempted kidnapping.
A woman who kicked and punched a local father at a Berkeley playground this week is now facing criminal charges, police report.
Kelly Moy, described by police as a 49-year-old homeless woman, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of child endangerment and attempted kidnapping, Berkeley police said.
The incident began Tuesday at about 1:30 p.m. as the father pushed his 3-year-old son on the swings at Dreamland Playground.
The popular play area is located on Bolivar Drive, on the northeast side of Aquatic Park in West Berkeley.
While they were there, a stranger approached them "yelling and screaming," police said, and tried to get in between the father and son.
Emilie Raguso
The father used his body to shield the little boy and called to his wife, who was also in the park with their other child, BPD said.
Kelly Moy. BPD
"The woman kicked, punched and scratched the father while his wife came … to take their 3-year-old and other child away to safety," police said Tuesday. "The woman continued to attack him until he was eventually able to break free."
When officers got to Dreamland, they arrested Moy without incident.
On Wednesday, the Alameda County district attorney's office charged her with misdemeanor battery.
According to court records, Moy has no other criminal cases in Alameda County Superior Court.
Police said she did have an outstanding warrant at the time of her arrest related to other battery allegations.
Read more about crime in Berkeley.
As of publication time, Moy remained in custody at Santa Rita Jail with a bail of $10,000, court records show.
She is set for arraignment Thursday at Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland.
