Police: Woman Arrested For Heavy Drinking, Having Underage Driver
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 35-year-old woman was arrested Saturday in western Wisconsin after being extremely intoxicated and having her boyfriend's 13-year-old daughter drive her around, according to police.
The suspect, identified as Charity Marie Rogers, was arrested on suspicion of reckless endangerment of a child in connection with the incident.
Police were called at about 12:02 p.m. Saturday to the Thirsty Otter bar in Balsam Lake, Wis., on a report that a juvenile female was scared, lost and with an intoxicated female. Officers met with the owner of the bar, who said the girl had been driving around her dad's girlfriend, identified as Rogers, in the area to a liquor store and a bar.
The girl told police the day started with Rogers offering to take her out to practice driving near her home in Luck, Wis. Rogers had the girl drive to a liquor store, where she bought alcohol and started drinking. Rogers then had the girl drive her to the Straight 8 bar on Highway 8, where Rogers had two Bloody Mary's.
The girl wanted to go home, so they left with her still driving. Police say the girl needed help getting back to Rogers' home because she was from Detroit and didn't know the area. Rogers was passing out in the passenger seat, mumbling and the girl couldn't understand her.
Police say the girl was driving for a long time, was scared that she was getting lost and stopped at the Thirsty Otter to ask for help. An employee at the bar said Rogers was intoxicated to the point where she wouldn't be served alcohol. Rogers was eventually sitting in the driver's seat of the car with no keys and the vehicle turned off. She was intoxicated to the level that she couldn't communicate.
Authorities say the girl was very upset and scared because she didn't know where she was or how to get back to her dad. A preliminary breath test showed Rogers had a blood alcohol level of .295, and she was taken to a hospital for treatment.
The incident remains under investigation.
