Woman charged with endangerment after driving through yard with child

PARAGOULD, Ark. (KAIT) - A judge found probable cause to charge a Paragould woman with endangerment after police said she drove under the influence with a child in the back seat.

Anne C. Coker is being held in the Greene County Detention Center on a $100,000 cash/surety bond on one count of first-degree child endangerment, a Class D felony. She’s also facing misdemeanor charges of first-degree criminal mischief and driving while intoxicated.

On May 29, officers responded to a “seemingly lost and confused” female driving through a yard in the 4200 block of Reynolds Park Road, the affidavit said.

Sgt. Jacob Higdon said when officers stopped a “very emotional” Coker, they noticed she had very slurred speech and small amounts of drool coming from her mouth.

They also noticed a young child in the back seat.

“The defendant advised officers that she was attempting to go to Hoxie and had woken up really dizzy,” the affidavit said.

After performing a field sobriety test, an ambulance crew was called to the scene to assess Coker.

“An officer observed the defendant to be itching, scratching, twitching and pulling at her arms, hips and stomach while speaking with EMS personnel,” Higdon said.

While she was being evaluated, Higdon said officers searched Coker’s vehicle and located two bottles of generic Adderall.

“EMS personnel determined that the defendant was likely overdosing on Adderall,” Higdon said in the affidavit.

After finding probable cause to charge her, Greene County District Judge Curtis Hitt issued a no-contact order with the child, adding that contact could resume with approval from the Department of Human Services or further order of the court. She must also wear a GPS ankle monitor.

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