A Westmoreland County woman is facing charges after police said they found her unresponsive and heavily impaired in a roadway while her two children were home alone.
According to CBS Pittsburgh, Penn Township police responded last Friday to Berlin Road near Chestnut Lane after a passerby reported seeing a woman lying in the road. Officers identified her as 40-year-old Melissa Davis and found her near a poorly lit section of the roadway by a blind curve.
Police said Davis had constricted pupils, slurred speech and could not sit up on her own. A cup smelling strongly of alcohol was reportedly found next to her, and she was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital.
Court documents cited by CBS Pittsburgh say Davis told officers she had consumed whiskey, six hydrocodone pills and at least eight Xanax pills. Investigators then determined that her children, ages 11 and 2, had been left at home without adult supervision.
Police Say Older Child Was Left In Charge
The 11-year-old reportedly told investigators that Davis had consumed a large amount of alcohol earlier in the night and asked the child to watch the younger sibling before leaving. Police said the child believed Davis was gone for at least an hour.
Davis is charged with endangering the welfare of children, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. The charges are allegations, and Davis is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Westmoreland Child Safety Referrals
The Westmoreland County Children’s Bureau says suspected abuse or neglect can be reported to ChildLine, while emergency referrals after regular hours should be made through 911, according to the county agency. The bureau also says reports may be made anonymously.
