Mother arrested for OWI while driving child to school

A 32 year-old Elmwood Township woman was driving her 4 year-old child to school at 9:00 Wednesday morning when she was stopped by a Leelanau County Sheriff's deputy for defective equipment.  The stop occurred on S West Bay Shore Drive near Peck Road in Suttons Bay Township.

Upon contact with the woman, the deputy noticed signs of intoxication and the odor of alcohol.  The driver said she was taking her child to school and denied drinking before driving.  She did admit that she was drinking until about 2:00am.

The driver failed field sobriety tasks given and was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated.  She was taken to the Leelanau County jail where the Datamaster breath test was given.  The result was .08%.  She posted $100 interim bond and was released pending a District Court appearance.

The woman was allowed to call a family friend who came to the scene of the traffic stop and took the child to school.  A charge of Child Endangerment will also be sought in addition to OWI.  Child endangerment is a separate charge involving driving intoxicated with a passenger under 16 years of age.