Man, two women arrested after dispute takes to streets

A domestic fight over a 1-year-old girl and other issues evolved Wednesday night into three adults playing bumper cars at a city intersection and in a parking lot, prompting the arrests of the trio early Thursday.

One of the three, Tyler G. Grill, 22, of 618 Hancock St., was sent to the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building under $8,000 bail by part-time Watertown City Judge Eugene R. Renzi. He is charged with third-degree assault, felony criminal contempt and endangering the welfare of a child.

His former girlfriend and the mother of the child, Shanae M. Lavere, 17, of 428 Dimmick St., was released on $100 bail, and faces prosecution on charges of second-degree reckless endangerment, endangering the welfare of a child, reckless driving, following too closely, having improper license plates and operating an unregistered vehicle.

Mr. Grill's current girlfriend, Jennifer A. Bell, 20, also of 618 Hancock St., was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, endangering the welfare of a child and reckless driving.

Watertown police said a disturbance developed at Mr. Grill's apartment shortly after 8 p.m. when Ms. Lavere arrived with the child. During the confrontation, he is accused of punching Ms. Lavere and biting her on the left arm, police said. She holds a Family Court order of protection against him.

Ms. Lavere left the child behind, and drove off in a reckless manner, police said. There were conflicting versions about whether Ms. Lavere voluntarily left her daughter there.

Mr. Grill got into an auto driven by Ms. Bell, and they drove off. He was sitting on the front passenger seat and had the girl on his lap, without use of restraints, police said.

Police became involved after Mr. Grill called 911 from Factory and Pearl streets, reporting that Ms. Lavere had slammed into the rear of the vehicle in which he was riding. The motorists were gone when patrols arrived, but were found in a parking lot of New York Air Brake Co. Officers were given counter allegations that Ms. Bell had stopped suddenly to cause the collision, and also that her auto was driven toward the passenger side of the Lavere vehicle.

No injuries were reported.