Joplin woman accused of holding child underwater as he gasped for air

A Joplin woman is jailed after police say she repeatedly held her child underwater in a hotel swimming pool, leaving the boy crying and gasping for air.

23-year-old Bionka Jasmine Cooper is charged with first-degree domestic assault following the Sunday incident at the Days Inn.

According to a probable-cause statement, Joplin police were called to the hotel a little after 9 p.m. for a disturbance involving Cooper and several other people gathered near the pool.

A witness told investigators Cooper dunked the child underwater several times during a roughly two-minute period. Police said one instance lasted about 20 seconds.

The witness said the boy cried and struggled for air each time he was brought back above the surface.

Another person eventually took the child from Cooper and held him face down while patting his back in an effort to clear water.

Two witnesses told police Cooper appeared heavily intoxicated and could barely stand without assistance.

Investigators said Cooper then became belligerent, got out of the pool and repeatedly hit someone else.

When officers arrived, police said Cooper was slurring her words.

She denied assaulting the other victim and denied intentionally trying to drown the child.

Asked how long she believed the child had been underwater, Cooper allegedly told an officer, “less than 30 seconds.”

She also told police she had consumed seven shots of Pink Whitney.

Cooper is being held on a first-degree domestic assault charge.

Her bond is listed at $10,000 cash and $500,000 cash or surety.