Dallas mom halts repossession by lobbing baby into moving SUV, police say
A Dallas mother is in custody after putting her baby’s life at risk in an attempt to prevent her car from being repossessed, police said.

Shortly before 4 p.m. Monday, a man seeking to repossess the 2001 Ford Expedition of 28-year-old Krystal Gardner arrived at her home in the 10000 block of Landsdowne Drive in southeast Dallas, police said.

As the repo man, Luke Ross, was backing out of the driveway, Gardner tossed her 1-year-old child through an open window into the back seat of the moving sport utility vehicle, according to police reports. State law prevents vehicles from being repossessed if someone is inside.

When Ross saw the infant in the back seat, he immediately put the car in park and began to get out, the reports say. Then, police say, a 15-year-old boy armed with a 12-gauge shotgun came out of the house and fired one round into the air and another at Ross, striking him in the leg.

Ross, who ultimately repossessed the vehicle, suffered minor injuries in the shooting.

Police arrived at the scene shortly after and arrested Gardner and the teen, who was identified as Jessie Reyna. Both were charged with aggravated assault.

Gardner also faces a charge of endangering a child and several outstanding traffic warrants. She was being held on about $4,000 bail.

The case has been referred to Child Protective Services, which will decide what actions to take regarding the treatment of the infant.