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Police: Ventura Woman Sprayed 12-Year-Old Girl In Face With Insecticide

VENTURA (CBS/AP) — A Ventura woman is police custody on suspicion of spraying a can of roach and ant killer in a 12-year-old girl's face.

Jeanette Rohde, 52, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of of child endangerment and assault with a caustic chemical. Rohde is being held on $50,000 bail.

The girl's mother, Maria Elena Pacheco, told CBS2/KCAL9's Suzie Suh that her daughter, Cristal, was playing outside with her four brothers and sisters when Rohde began arguing with another neighbor. Rohde then came over to Pacheco and another neighbor and began to argue with them.

"She said, 'There's some cockroaches here, so I'm going to spray some of this spray,' but she meant us," Cristal said. "And she put some on our legs."

Cristal says Rohde then put the can near her face. Cristal says she tried to block the can, but some of the spray still landed on her left cheek.

Investigators say Rohde left but officers found her several blocks away, trying to hide.

Police say the girl sustained minor injuries to her face.

Other neighbors said that Rohde isn't exactly the friendly neighbor next door.

"She has to be nicer to people," Cristal said. "And she has to think before she does [things]."

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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