Chambersburg woman held baby while passed out drunk behind wheel of running car, cops say
Ashley BooksA preliminary hearing is scheduled next week for a Chambersburg woman who was allegedly found passed out drunk behind the wheel of a running vehicle while holding an infant.
Kelsey Brooke McMaster, 25, is charged with one felony count of endangering the welfare of children, two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence and one misdemeanor count of recklessly endangering another person, and cited with traffic violations, according to court documents. She was arraigned and released from the Franklin County Jail on $25,000 bond.
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Pennsylvania State Police were dispatched at about 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16 to a gas station on Molly Pitcher Highway, Guilford Township, to check on someone asleep in a car in the parking lot.
Troopers found the driver, identified as McMaster, passed out in the driver's seat while holding an 11-month-old baby in her lap. The car was still in drive with its brake lights on at a gas pump.
Police said they were able to wake up McMaster after several attempts, during which time the vehicle began rolling. McMaster eventually put the car in park and turned it off upon being asked several times to do so, and then got out.
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While speaking with her, officers smelled a strong odor of alcohol, and noticed she had bloodshot, glassy eyes and her speech was slurred. McMaster admitted to consuming alcohol, but could not say how much, documents show. She also showed multiple signs of impairment during a field sobriety test, and tested positive for alcohol during a breath test.
McMaster was taken to Chambersburg Hospital for a blood draw, which revealed her blood alcohol content level was .175 percent.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 26 in Franklin County Central Court.
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In other police news:
- A man was arrested after he admitted to using a stolen bank card at Rutter's Farm Store on South Main Street, Chambersburg Police said.
- A woman was charged after she stole four packages of diapers worth about $138 from Weis Markets on Wayne Avenue at about 4 p.m. on Feb. 13, Chambersburg Police said.
- Sometime between Thursday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 16, someone passed a counterfeit $100 at the American Legion in Chambersburg, Chambersburg Police said. Anyone with any information is asked to call police at 717-264-4131.
- Chambersburg Police are seeking more information about a burglary which occurred at an AT&T store on Norland Avenue at about 3 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19. According to the report, three suspects entered the business and stole merchandise before fleeing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact police at 717-264-4131.
- Drug paraphernalia was found in a Harrisburg man's vehicle on Interstate 81 at about 9:19 a.m. on Feb. 7, Pennsylvania State Police said.
- A Chambersburg man was found to be driving under the influence of a controlled substance during a traffic stop on Black Gap Road at about 12:22 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15, Pennsylvania State Police said.