A Pennsylvania woman returned to a dollar store she had been banned from and pepper sprayed employees as they attempted to escort her out before encouraging her children to do the same, according to police.
Authorities say Delaina Garling, 27, went to a Family Dollar Store outside Philadelphia, Pa. on Monday where she had been banned from for alleged theft. Surveillance video shows the woman, accompanied by her two children, attempting to douse employees with pepper spray as they tried to remove her from the store.
Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood told NBC Philadelphia that the manager of the store then got in a fight with Garling during which the pepper spray fell to the ground. She then yelled at her kids to continue the fight.
"The woman is hollering to her daughter, 'Get it, spray it. Get it, spray it,'" said Chitwood.
The 7-year-old girl picked up the canister, but another employee quickly grabbed it from the girl.
Chitwood said that marijuana and pills were also found in Garling's bag upon arrest. Charges against her include assault, harassment, and drug possession, and is being held on $30,000 bail, according to court documents.
Garling pleaded guilty to retail theft in 2008 and 2010, according to court records.
“These poor kids never got a shot with a mother like that,” Chitwood said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
