A mother from Arizona has been sentenced to a decade in prison after running over a 12-year-old girl with her pickup truck during a violent altercation at a park. Brandie Gotch, 31, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated assault for her actions, which took place in February 2024 at Westgreen Park in Peoria, a suburb of Phoenix.
The Incident at Westgreen Park
The incident began when Gotch’s children were involved in a fight at the park, with other kids egging them on and recording the altercation. Prosecutors explained that Gotch arrived at the park to pick up her children and was walking them back to her truck when a 14-year-old boy called her a name.
In response, Gotch approached the boy, grabbed him by the hair, and began violently pulling his head back and forth while yelling at him.
The situation escalated when a second boy called her a derogatory name. Gotch then allegedly went to her white Chevy Silverado, grabbed what appeared to be a sharp stick, and chased the boy, shouting threats such as, “I am going to kill you and run you over.”
The Run-Over Incident
Gotch then gathered her four children into her truck. According to prosecutors, the second boy stood behind the vehicle, mocking her before stepping aside to stand with his sister. Gotch revved the engine and drove directly toward the children. While the boy was able to jump out of the way, the 12-year-old girl was not so lucky and was struck by the truck, suffering injuries to her leg.
Gotch continued driving through the park, where over a dozen other children were present. Some of the children had to jump out of the truck’s path to avoid being hit. After the incident, Gotch drove home and was later arrested by police.
Gotch’s Statement and Investigation
In a subsequent interview with detectives, Gotch admitted to driving through the park, saying she went “around the bathrooms” and “through the park field.” When asked if she had run over any children, she claimed that she did not think she had, stating, “I hope not.”
Gotch explained to the authorities that her children had been bullied by the kids at school, and she had already reported the bullying to school officials and the police, but nothing had been done. She believed the bullying continued at the park and this fueled her actions.
Despite Gotch’s claim that all of her children were properly strapped into their seat belts, her children contradicted her statement, telling police that they had not been restrained and had been “bouncing all over the vehicle” during the incident.
Sentencing and Outcome
Brandie Gotch was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her actions, which prosecutors described as reckless and dangerous. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell stated, “This could have been a much more tragic situation; thankfully the worst injury in this was a sprained ankle and some bad scrapes and bruises.”
Mitchell also emphasized the importance of adults maintaining control, saying, “It is never okay to take our rage out on a kid.”
The case serves as a tragic reminder of how unchecked anger can lead to dangerous consequences. While Gotch’s frustrations were rooted in her children’s alleged bullying, her actions towards the children in the park were far beyond an acceptable response.
Thankfully, the worst outcome was not realized, but the sentencing of Brandie Gotch reflects the severity of her actions and the need for responsible behavior, especially as an adult.
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