Bystander Throws Water On Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake

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BALTIMORE (WJZ)--A woman dumps water on Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake during a One Baltimore event this morning at the Mondawmin Mall.

Amy Yensi has more.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake is in a dancing mood at the Mondawmin Festival Saturday morning. The One Baltimore event happening at the mall now notoriously linked to April's unrest.

But the gathering aiming to connect the community and city agencies goes from festive to frantic in an instant.

A bystander, later identified as 37-year-old Lacheisa Pailin-Sheffer, of Baltimore, throws water on the mayor as she speaks to the crowd.

Pictures from our media partner The Baltimore Sun, capture the frantic moments.

Rawlings-Blake at Mondawmin Festival Credit: Baltimore Sun/ Tom Brenner

Baltimore, MD - 07/11/15 - A woman suspected of dumping water on Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is detaineded. The mayor was speaking at the Mondawmin mall. Tom Brenner / The Baltimore Sun.

Baltimore, MD - 07/11/15 - Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has water dumped on her by a bystander after speaking at the Mondawmin mall Tom Brenner / The Baltimore Sun. ORG XMIT: BAL1507111223314795

Baltimore, MD - 07/11/15 - Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has water dumped on her after speaking at the Mondawmin mall Tom Brenner / The Baltimore Sun.

The mayor downplays the encounter. "I don't know what it was that she threw at me. I hope it was water. It was more shocking than anything else and unfortunate," she said.

Pailin-Sheffer was taken away in handcuffs and being charged with second degree assault, police said.

The water incident capping off an whirlwind week for Mayor Rawlings-Blake. On Wednesday, she axed Anthony Batts and appointed a new interim police commissioner. The change in guard not enough to silence her predecessor and mayoral candidate Sheila Dixon.

Dixon releasing an editorial in which she blames failed leadership for the city's problems. It reads in part, "The people of Baltimore are on their knees, and they are crying for change."

WJZ cameras caught up with Dixon Saturday morning and its clear her mind is on the race.

"We have a phenomenal police department but we also have a lot of challenges and it takes the leadership to make sure the vision is there," said Dixon.

Dixon spoke to WJZ exclusively when she spoke about Mayor Rawlings-Blake.

"I'm not gonna grade Stephanie because I just think criticizing her at this time would be insensitive for me to do that," Dixon said in the interview.

The current mayor says she's focuses on the city not her opponent.

"I think it's very clear when someone is trying to exploit a situation to be an opportunist; I'm looking for opportunities for Baltimore and that's what I'm going to continue to focus on," said Rawlings-Blake.

The mayor was not hurt in the incident. She kept interacting with he community and stayed for the event.

A spokesperson for the mayor says the incident will not keep her from going to other public events.