Coldwater Woman Charged With Assault Involving Children Services Worker

A 57-year-old Coldwater woman faces a felony assault charge following an alleged confrontation with a Mercer County Job and Family Services employee investigating a report of child abuse.

Cerina S. Burker was charged November 5 in Mercer County Common Pleas Court with one count of assault, a fifth-degree felony. The charge stems from an incident November 4 at her home.

According to an affidavit filed by Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy Colten Groff, the employee visited the home to investigate allegations involving Burker and her 14-year-old daughter.

The employee told investigators that while questioning Burker about the alleged incident, Burker approached her and grabbed the front of her shirt near her throat, demonstrating what she had done to her daughter.

During a subsequent interview, Burker told the deputy she had grabbed the employee’s shirt and “wrinkled it up,” according to the affidavit.

The employee later provided a written statement alleging Burker approached her aggressively and also threatened to strike her daughter when the girl returned home.

Deputies arrested Burker and transported her to the Mercer County Detention Facility.

The complaint alleges the assault involved a public children services employee performing official duties. The charge is an allegation, and Burker is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.