Police: Florida woman slapped Black child’s face, used racial slur at amusement center

BOCA RATON, Fla. — A Florida woman is accused of slapping an 11-year-old Black child in the face and using a racial slur at him after the boy bumped her car at a go-kart track Saturday, authorities said.

Haley Erin Zager, 30, of Lantana, was originally charged with child abuse, which was increased to a second-degree felony because of the racial aspect of the incident, according to an arrest report.

Boca Raton police also charged Zager with four counts of drug possession after finding prescription pills in her underwear, the report said.

Zager was released on her own recognizance Monday afternoon on the condition that she is supervised, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

The alleged slurs took place at the Boomers in Boca Raton, an amusement center that features go-kart racing, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

Three Boomers employees witnessed Zager getting out of her go-kart and hitting the boy, according to the newspaper. Zager told police she was stopped at the end of her race when her go-kart was hit from behind “at full speed,” the Sun-Sentinel reported.

Zager told police that when the boy did not apologize, she “tapped” him in the face, according to the arrest report.

Zager allegedly used a racial slur when complaining to a Boomers employee, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

Neither Zager nor her attorney responded for requests for comment.

In a statement, Boomers officials said they invited the child and his family to a free day at the park.

“At Boomers parks, we value being a family fun center inclusive to guests of all backgrounds. We are saddened that one of our guests did not possess these same values and we do not condone physical or verbal abuse amongst guests,” the statement said. “We are appreciative of our staff and the police and fire rescue officers who acted swiftly to defuse the situation.”

Cox Media Group