Southbridge woman tried to hit teen with car while driving with daughter, police say

A Southbridge woman is facing multiple charges after police say she tried to hit a teenage girl with her car while her own daughter was in the back seat.

Samantha Angers, 39, was charged with two felonies: assault with a dangerous weapon — a motor vehicle — and assault to kill. She also faces misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and reckless endangerment of a child, according to court documents. 

The incident unfolded around 6 p.m. on March 24, after officers responded to reports of a large fight involving juveniles in the area of the Community Center on Morris Street, the Southbridge Police Department said in a statement. 

When officers arrived, they determined an altercation had occurred between two juveniles. As police began investigating, Angers, the mother of one of the juveniles, arrived at the scene, according to a police report filed to the court March 25. 

Authorities said Angers had her daughter get in her car and left, allegedly stating that they were going to find the other teen “to retaliate,” according to the statement. 

Police then observed the other juvenile running down the street “frantically,” appearing “frightened and panicked,” the report said. 

According to police, Angers drove at a high rate of speed, failed to stop at a stop sign, and veered into oncoming traffic before swerving back while following the other juvenile. 

The teen ran into the parking lot on Chestnut Street, where Angers allegedly followed — cutting across grass and accelerating towards her, according to the statement. 

At one point, Angers came within several feet of the girl, who was running towards a stone wall while trying to avoid being hit, police said. Officers allege Angers repeatedly turned her vehicle toward the teen and accelerated — at one point coming within about 10 feet of striking her. 

“Angers operated her vehicle in an unsafe manner with no regard to her safety, her passenger’s safety, or the safety of the pedestrians around her,” the police statement reads. “This dangerous and erratic operation was done with JV2 [identified as Angers’ daughter] in the rear passenger seat of the vehicle.” 

The teen later told officers she “was in fear of her life” and believed Angers was trying to kill her, according to the report. 

“I know this family. She was going to keep hunting me down,” an officer reported the teen saying. 

Officers ordered Angers to stop, but she did not immediately comply, police said. She was eventually taken into custody after exiting the vehicle, allegedly while continuing to shout and curse at the juveniles at the scene. 

During an interview, Samantha Angers allegedly told police she was upset over past conflicts between her daughter and the teen and said she chased the girl to “get her to stop.” 

Angers’ bail was set at $15,000, and she is being held pending release, police said. Angers is scheduled to be arraigned in Dudley District Court, with her next court appearance set for April 30.