Domestic abuse ploy: ACS ‘claim’

Andrew S. Garib, METRO New York | Link | PDF | New York. It’s hell all over again for victims of domestic violence whose battering spouses call the Administration for Children’s Services with false claims about their abusive parenting.

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said 72 percent of domestic violence service workers had at least one case where battered women were victims of malicious false reports.

“I was the domestic abuse victim, but I was the one being punished,” said Tanya McLeod, 42.

McLeod’s ex-husband, Anthony Bullock called the ACS tip line from Rikers Island, claiming McLeod, tried to kill her children, then 9, 7 and 2. She went through three months of early morning door knocks by ACS agents.

“One phone call, one malicious report, can keep a victim trapped in a cycle of abuse and harassment for years,” Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said.

Gotbaum said making malicious false reports to ACS a felony would help bring abusers to justice. End.