Medford, NY - July 25, 2015 - Suffolk County Police today 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. 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, of Port Jefferson Station will be 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.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.