Police say Iowa City mom exposed daughter to drugs, broke arm

An Iowa City woman is in jail after she allegedly broke her 15-month-old daughter's arm and exposed her to marijuana and cocaine.

Kristle A. Harris, 26, of 814 Benton Dr. No. 13, faces charges of felony child endangerment causing bodily injury and endangerment/no injury, an aggravated misdemeanor. She was arrested Thursday and was still in Johnson County Jail Friday morning.

On Oct. 19, Harris grabbed her crying 15-month-old daughter by the arms, flipped her upside down and slammed the girl across her lap, causing a spiral fracture of the right humerus, according to a criminal complaint.

Harris admitted causing the break during a third interview with police, according to the complaint. She said her daughter cries all the time and she got angry, police said. Harris said she cried immediately after doing this and apologized to the girl, police said.

The same daughter later tested positive for ingested cocaine and exposure to marijuana. Harris admitted both her children were exposed to marijuana but not cocaine, police said.

Child endangerment causing bodily injury is a class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $7,500 fine. The aggravated misdemeanor has a maximum prison sentence of two years and a $6,250 fine.