Woman arrested after allegedly abusing son on video; family defends her

DETROIT (WJBK) - Producer note: The video may be upsetting to some viewers.

In Detroit a woman was caught on camera abusing a child.

We want to warn you; this story comes with some disturbing video. 
    
The woman was walking on Minden Street near Detroit City Airport Thursday evening and it appears she intentionally trips the 2-year-old. And while the kid is on the ground appears to kick the toddler.

The woman was arrested but has not yet been charged.

"I never saw that side of her before, I was like wow is that Rolaunda," said Daisha McDonald, the sister of the woman. 

The shocking scene was captured outside of a Detroit apartment complex.  A woman waking with her son appears to be kick him and shake him violently.

But the woman's family is coming to her defense. 

"I've never seen her like that before," McDonald said. "She has to be going through something. She is a very phenomenal woman; she will give you the shirt off her back."

Family members have identified the woman as 30-year-old Rolando Paul. Despite the video. her sister says Paul is a good mother to her son, 2-year old Dante and they have never seen her behave like this before.

"She would never do anything to hurt him," McDonald said. "As you can see, he looks like a nice, young man. He's not in any harm." 

Detroit police tell FOX 2 that the incident happened at 5 pm on Tuesday on Delaware Street and it was all captured on video.  

Police say if you see something like this you should always report it, and that's how officers learned of it Thursday after being told of it. Shortly after, the mother was arrested at her family's home in Detroit and taken into police custody.

"That was very shocking to see, because she's never been in trouble with the law," McDonald said.

That's why family members say they don't know why this loving mother would do such a thing.

"She has two jobs; she has her own place. She lives downtown, I don't understand," McDonald said.

According to her sister, Paul is ashamed of her actions. 

Police said a warrant package will be sent to the prosecutor's office for review and Paul is currently in police custody.

As for Dante, the family says he is healthy and well and misses his mother.

"He wouldn't go to sleep last night," McDonald said. "He was like 'I want my mama.'"