SALEM — A Newmarket woman was arrested on Mother's Day on charges of beating her 9-year-old son at Canobie Lake Park, police said.
She also allegedly kicked and elbowed two police officers when they tried to arrest her.
Other park patrons witnessed Shannon Benedict, 27, put her son in a headlock, punch him in the back of the head, and then pull his head back by his hair and slap him in the face about 4 p.m. Sunday, police said.
Park security called police and escorted Benedict to the main gate. She began yelling profanities and threatening the security guard as she left the park, police said. She allegedly shoved the security guard and told him she had "been to jail before and would (expletive) kill him," according to police Capt. Shawn Patten.
When police arrived, Benedict swung and flailed wildly when officers tried to take her into custody, Patten said. She elbowed one officer in the stomach and kicked another officer. Benedict eventually was arrested without the use of a Taser or pepper spray, Patten said.
She appeared to be extremely intoxicated, police said.
The 9-year-old boy was taken from the park by other adults in the group he came with. The state's Division of Children, Youth and Families has been contacted, Patten said. Salem police credited the security officers at Canobie Lake Park for containing the situation until police could respond.
"The security at Canobie is very well trained and does an excellent job," Patten said. "They are an asset to keeping the park a safe place to bring a family."
Benedict faces single counts of disorderly conduct, criminal threatening and resisting arrest, and four counts of simple assault. She was booked and released on Sunday, with a scheduled court arraignment on June 24.
