Woman found asleep with kids in car arraigned on OUI charge

CARVER, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A woman who was arrested Saturday night after police found her sleeping in a parked and running car with two children in the back seat was arraigned Monday on charges stemming from the incident.

Jennifer Bangs, 40, of Wareham was charged with two counts of child endangerment and one charge of operating under the influence of alcohol. The judge imposed a $2,500 bail in this case, and revoked bail on a pending case of assault and battery.

In that case, Bangs allegedly cut her boyfriend, Chris Carter, 60, on the cheek. He has not pressed charges, but the state may still.

The incident started at around 9:20 p.m. Saturday, when police responded to 154 Tremont St. after receiving a call about a suspicious car that kept pulling into and out of the driveway of the home. In court Monday, it was revealed that Bangs was in her boyfriend's driveway, and he is the person who called 911.

When police arrived, officers found a 2002 Mercury Sable parked in the driveway, with the car's lights on and engine running. They also saw that the car's driver was asleep and  there were two girls in the back seat, also sleeping. One of the girls was the Bangs' 5-year-old daughter, and the other girl was 10, police said.

After several attempts to wake the woman, police said when she finally woke up, she was incoherent. They gave her a field sobriety test, which she reportedly failed. Police reported finding five nips of vodka in the back of the car, four that were empty and one was full.

Police then arrested Bangs, and the two children in the car were released to a relative and friend of the family.

The Department of Children and Families was notified of the incident, police said.

The brother of Bangs' boyfriend said she is an admitted alcoholic, and that his brother Chris wanted her to get help. Carter reportedly did not know the person in the driveway was Bangs until after he called police.

Cox Media Group