(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police on Saturday, July 25 arrested a Port Jefferson Station woman who was unresponsive and under the influence of drugs in a parked car with her child in Medford.
Sixth Precinct Police Officers Michael Becker and Michael Cafarella responded to an anonymous 911 call reporting that an unresponsive woman with a child were in a parked vehicle at Gulf, located at 3417 Route 112, at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Suffolk County Police on Saturday, July 25 arrested Joan Beard, 31, of Port Jefferson Station, who was under the influence of drugs in a parked car with her child in Medford. Photo Credit: SCPD.
When the officers arrived, they knocked on the car window. Joan Beard, who was sitting in the driver seat, did not respond but awoke when the officers opened up the door. Her daughter, 2, was in the back seat, unharmed.
Beard, who was under the influence of drugs, was arrested and charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree. Beard, 31, was held overnight at the Fourth Precinct for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip on July 26.
A notification was made to Child Protective Services. The child was released to family members.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
