HCSO: 1-year-old falls from second story window, woman charged

SPRING HILL – Ashley C. Gallant, 24, was arrested early Friday morning after a child she was caring for fell out of a second-story window, investigators said.

Detectives learned shortly after arriving at 512 Spring Haven Loop that the 1-year-boy pushed against the window screen and fell 12 feet to the ground out of an apartment window.

An arrest affidavit did not disclose Gallant’s relationship to the child.

Gallant told detectives she was washing dishes when she heard a noise and realized the child had fallen out of the window. She carried him inside and cleaned up cuts and scrapes on his face.

Gallant said she called the child’s father, who insisted she call an ambulance. Gallant did not seek medical attention for the child, authorities said.

Members of the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Children and Families responded to the home, and the boy was airlifted to All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.

He was listed in stable condition Monday.

Gallant admitted to smoking marijuana the day before the child fell, investigators reported, and said she had taken eight Clonazepam during the 48 hours leading up to the incident, thought she is only prescribed one pill per day.

Investigators said Gallant was calm and not upset about what had happened, and objected to authorities flying the child to be flown to a hospital.

Gallant was released on $2,000 bail Saturday night.