A St. Louis woman, aged 28, was taken into custody after law enforcement officers discovered her unconscious in the back seat of her car, while her 8-year-old child was at the wheel, driving in the wrong direction. The incident occurred on Monday near the Gateway Arch, in the downtown area of St. Louis, at the intersection of 4th and Walnut streets. The officers were taken aback when they stopped the vehicle and found a child behind the wheel.
The mother, identified as Latonya Mayes-Gale, was reportedly in the driver’s seat initially but asked her son to take over so she could recline in the back seat. In addition to the 8-year-old, there was also a 3-year-old in the car who was not secured in a car seat, according to the police report.
Mayes-Gale was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. She was subsequently taken to the City Justice Center. Despite the serious charges, she has since been released on bond.
During the bond hearing, Mayes-Gale’s attorney revealed that she is a single mother of two, working as a home health aide, and also caring for a homebound elderly grandparent. The attorney suggested that stress and mental health issues may have contributed to the incident. However, prosecutors believe substance abuse was a factor.
Despite objections from the prosecution, the judge granted Mayes-Gale’s release on bond. Court records indicate that she is currently under house arrest and has been ordered to have no contact with her children. The children are presently residing with their father, as reported by the Riverfront Times. Mayes-Gale’s next court appearance is slated for April 23.