Charges dismissed against Maryanne Godboldo, mom involved in police standoff over care of daughter

08/29/2011

DETROIT (WXYZ) - All charges have been dismissed against the Detroit mother who was involved in a standoff with Detroit Police over the care of her daughter.

Godboldo faced a series of charges stemming from the 10-hour barricaded standoff that took place last March. She was accused of firing a shot at police after Child Protective Services case workers showed up at her door to take custody of her 13-year-old daughter.

CPS alleged that Godboldo was not administering the correct medication to her daughter. The 13-year-old is disabled and has a reduced mental capacity.

Godboldo denies she fired at police and says caseworkers had no right to remove her daughter. After Monday's ruling she said, "I was very pleased with what happened today and I’m pleased Judge Giles ruled in the way that he did because justice prevailed.”

Maryanne Godboldo’s attorney says when a CPS caseworker came to take her 13-year-old daughter in March – Godboldo demanded to see the court order authorizing the child’s removal from her home.

Allison Folmar says her client never got a good look at the order before the situation spiraled out of control, with allegations that Godboldo fired a shot, followed by a lengthy police standoff.

Folmar argued that the order was not valid. She responded to the dismissal by saying, "It sent a message to Detroit Police that when you come into someone’s house and you’re taking their child, you have to be lawful.”

“The order was never verified; it was never confirmed as to whether or not this is actually an order. The police met the CPS worker on the street, she hands them a piece of paper that is not officially filed with the county, it has a rubber stamp, and it’s not completely filled out,” said Folmar.

Folmar says Godboldo came to the attention of CPS because she decided to stop giving her daughter anti-psychotic medication that Godboldo believed was harming the girl. Folmar says there’s no indication that the caseworker ever presented a judge with evidence that the child needed to be on the drugs, and she’s arguing that if the order to take the child is invalid, the police had no right to enter Godboldo’s home.
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Related Links:
* Legal experts: 'Rubber-stamping' child removal orders illegal; Wayne County practice must stop
Heather Catallo, WXYZ, Detroit
* Foster care in Michigan: Well what do you know? Maryanne Godboldo’s daughter doesn't need drugs after all
NCCPR, Child Welfare Blog
* Detroit Mother Jailed for Weaning Daughter Off Risperdal
Vera Hassner Sharav, AHRP
* Community Rallies Behind Mother Accused Of Stand-Off
Diane Bukowski, Voice Of Detroit
* Detroit Mother Jailed In Dispute Over Daughter's Medication - Vaccines, Psychotropics
Doug Guthrie, The Detroit News
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http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/detroit/charges-dismissed-against-maryanne-godboldo,-mom-involved-in-police-standoff-over-care-of-daughter