Mills Woman Arrested for Child Endangerment After Drinking
Police on Thursday arrested a Mills woman who allegedly got drunk earlier that day, passed out and failed to pick a child up from school.
Mandy Ann Lundstedt, 39, was booked into jail on two recommended charges of child endangerment. She will likely make her initial appearance in Natrona County Circuit Court at 2 p.m. Friday.
Charging papers say the principal of the child's school called Casper police shortly after 5 p.m. Friday to report a child had not been picked up from school. Despite numerous attempts to contact the child's mother, the principal wasn't able to reach her.
The principal told police there had been several prior incidents where Lundstedt had shown up with alcohol on her breath, and had been late.
The child was only able to tell the officer that his mother drove a black and pink car.
A Mills police officer went to a home in the 4800 block of Lafayette street to see if Lundstedt was there. The officer arrived to find Lundstedt walking barefoot towards the driver's door of a black and pink Ford Mustang with Colorado license plates.
Lundstedt reportedly appeared "highly intoxicated" and said she was about to leave to pick up the child. The officer prevented her from getting into the car.
Lundstedt allowed the Mills officer into her home, where another highly intoxicated woman was found in the living room. A child was sleeping on a chair in the living room.
A portable breathalyzer test showed Lundstedt's blood-alcohol concentration was .185, well over twice the legal limit to drive.
Lundstedt initially said she was unable to find a vehicle to pick the child up from school, "despite the fact that she was about to drive to school in the Mustang," according to the affidavit.
After some time, she allegedly admitted to police that she and her best friend had consumed too much whiskey and passed out, later waking up to realize that she had not retrieved the child from school.
Lundstedt was "apologetic and admitted she made a mistake," court documents say.
Two children were taken into protective custody, and a Department of Family Services worker devised a safety plan with Lundstedt's mother, who would take care of the children.
Lundstedt was arrested and taken to jail. Court documents say she has no prior charges or convictions related to child endangerment.