LCPD: Woman punched 14-year-old girl at bus stop

Police officers arrested a woman accused of punching a 14-year-old girl who allegedly got into a fight with the woman’s daughter, police officials said.

The alleged assault happened at a bus stop Monday morning. Brandy Nicole Tapia, 32, is charged with one count of child abuse and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Investigators learned the 14-year-old girl and Tapia’s daughter, along with several other children, were waiting for a school bus Monday morning near the corner of Valleyview Avenue and Harrison Street. As the children waited for the bus, a boy reportedly asked Tapia’s daughter if it was true that her mother got into a fight over the weekend.

Police said the kids got into an argument and Tapia’s daughter left the bus stop. The girl to returned to the bus stop with her mother, police said.

Investigators said Tapia pulled up to the bus stop in her vehicle and began yelling at the kids. Tapia allegedly told the young boy to go get his mother so Tapia could beat her up.

Investigators said a 14-year-old girl approached Tapia’s car and asked her to leave. The argument escalated, Tapia’s daughter exited the vehicle and got into a fight with the 14-year-old girl, police said.

Shortly thereafter, Tapia got out of her vehicle, grabbed the 14-year-old and allegedly punched the girl in the face, police said.

Witnesses told police Tapia got back into her vehicle with her daughter and drove away.

The victim and her friends reported the incident to authorities when they arrived at Vista Middle School.

Tapia was arrested Monday evening and booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center. She is initially being held without bond.