Carpentersville woman accused of beating her children

A Carpentersville woman was arrested Sunday on charges she beat her 3- and 4-year-old children and then fought with the police who tried to apprehend her.

Ana B. Garcia, 28, of the 2000 block of Berkshire Circle, was charged with two felony counts of aggravated battery of a child and two misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest.

Police were called to the 3000 block of Wakefield Drive about 2 a.m. Sunday after witnesses complained about Garcia beating her children outside the building, Deputy Police Chief Dean Stiegemeier said.

One witness spoke of Garcia "punching and slapping the children so many times that I couldn't count," Stiegemeier said.

Garcia refused to open the door to officers, so they forced their way in and discovered the children had scratches and welts on their heads, police said. The children told police that their mother was responsible for their wounds, Stiegemeier said.

Garcia screamed at the officers and struggled with them before they arrested her, he said.

Representatives from the Department of Children and Family Services are now caring for the children, police said.

During a bond hearing Monday morning, Garcia denied she had anything to do with beating her children.

"I promise, I give you my word, I never touched my kids," she told Kane County Judge Bruce W. Lester. "This was a false call."

Lester set her bond at $50,000 and her next court date is June 23.

If found guilty, she could face 2 to 5 years in prison.