Fergus Falls woman arrested for taking child to Florida without custody

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (KFGO/KBRF) – Nicole Peasley, 29, of Fergus Falls, was arrested after taking her child who she did not have physical custody to Florida instead of returning him to his father.

On May 11, the Fergus Falls Police Department received a report from the father that he was waiting in the parking lot for the custody exchange of his child.

Pursuant to a court-ordered custody schedule, Peasley was supposed to bring the child to the FFPD parking lot for the exchange, but she did not appear and she was not responding to calls or messages.

The father feared Peasley would take the child to Florida.

According to court documents, although the two have joint legal custody, the father has sole physical custody, with Peasley having scheduled parenthood under certain conditions.

The Otter Tail County Sheriff's Department got involved and one of the deputies contacted a known friend of Peasley's, who was able to find his location as being in Illinois.

As of May 12, the father still had not heard from Peasley and the friend no longer had any location information from him.

Fergus Falls officers spoke with one of her relatives, who said they recently helped her pack because she was planning to move.

Officers learned through a law enforcement database that his vehicle had been located in Indiana.

Later that day, Peasley was located and arrested in Georgia by local law enforcement.

An FFPD sergeant spoke to her on the phone and informed her that she needed to return the child to the father in Minnesota by 5 p.m. on May 14.

Law enforcement attempted to maintain contact with her to ensure her return, but she did not respond to any further attempts at communication.

On May 14, Peasley's friend told authorities that they had her location data again, and it showed that she was in Florida, which is where her known relative resides. .

A warrant for Peasley's arrest was issued on May 16, and according to the Otter Tail County Jail inmate roster, he was admitted on May 17.

Peasley is charged with one count of depriving another of custody or parental rights.

Her first appearance was on May 20 and she was released on bail.

His next court hearing is set for July 8.