Mother caught hitting girl charged with falsifying data

11/5/2002

MONROE - An Indiana woman accused of beating her daughter on a security video broadcast nationwide has been charged with falsifying information to obtain a Michigan driver's license.

Monroe County Prosecutor Michael Weipert filed the felony charge against Madelyne Toogood yesterday. A misdemeanor charge of having more than one valid driver's license was also filed.

According to state police investigators, the woman provided a false address and fake name when applying for a driver's license and state identification card at a secretary of state office in Monroe. The felony charge of false certification is punishable by a sentence of one to five years. She also faces 90 days in jail if convicted of the misdemeanor charge.

Ms. Toogood was given a temporary driver's license from the office but had to return for a driving test before a permanent license was issued, said Detective Sgt. David Meyer of the Michigan State Police Monroe post.

The 25-year-old mother of three gained national attention when she was caught on surveillance cameras hitting her 4-year-old daughter, who was strapped into a car seat. Michigan authorities want to talk to her about an outstanding warrant in Lansing for using fake information at a traffic stop.

Authorities in LaGrange County, Ind., filed a felony theft charge recently against Ms. Toogood and her sister, Margaret Jean Daley, alleging they stole fabric from a local department store. The theft allegedly occurred Aug. 20 at Yoder's department store in Shipshewana, about 35 miles east of South Bend.