Published: September 05, 2008 07:56 pm            

Woman arrested for endangering baby

Somerset — A McCreary County woman was arrested Friday afternoon after witnesses reported a child was left unattended in a running vehicle outside a local business.

Joni Helton, 22, of Pine Knot, was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a minor and third-degree possession of a controlled substance in connection with the incident.

According to a police citation filed by Somerset Police Officer Roger Estep, officers responded to a report of a young child left unattended in a vehicle parked at Wal-Mart. According to witnesses, the child, a boy, was estimated to be about four months old. He was left in a car seat in the car, which was left running with the air conditioning turned on.

A witness reported that the child was left in the locked vehicle for approximately 30 minutes.

Helton was identified as the mother of the child, and was soon located in Wal-Mart and “appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance,” according to the citation.

Estep said Helton took a second child into the store with her. That child, another boy, was estimated to be around one year old.

During a search of the vehicle, Xanax was discovered, according to the citation.

Estep called social services, who took the children into temporary protective custody after the incident.

Helton was lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center.

        

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