A 34-year-old Linton woman was arrested on neglect of a dependent charges after her one-year-old child was found wandering in a parking lot near a neighbor’s home without a diaper, soaked in urine.

Michelle Marie Allen was arrested by Linton Police Department Detective Logan Hobbs on May 8 on a Level 6 Felony charge of neglect of a dependent.

Det. Hobbs responded to a call of a child wandering in a parking lot at 6:34 p.m. at a 7th Street SE apartment. According to the probable cause affidavit, the juvenile was described as approximately one-year-old in a onesie that was wet. When on the scene, Hobbs spoke with a witness who alleged she and her husband saw the child exit the residence without an adult. The witness also noted the child was wearing a onesie without a diaper and was soaked in urine. The witness said she tried to make contact with the resident but was unsuccessful.

According to the probable cause, Hobbs entered the residence to ensure that there was no medical or other emergency currently occurring that would cause Allen to be incapacitated and unable to care for the child.

Upon entry to the residence and announcing his presence as an officer, according to the probable cause, Hobbs received no response and did not see anyone inside. He cleared two bedrooms and a bathroom and observed a door without a handle that he was unable to enter. He returned to the door without a handle, continued to announce his presence, and tried to find a way to open the door. At that time, Allen opened the door to the bedroom. When asked if she had a small child, Allen answered that she did. Hobbs then informed Allen her child was outside.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Hobbs wrote he could tell Allen was impaired and intoxicated by her posture, speech, and sluggish movement. When asked if she was intoxicated, Allen allegedly told Hobbs she was not. Hobbs asked Allen to exit the residence to get the child.

Once outside the residence, Hobbs wrote that Allen was unable to walk in a straight line, leaned in an unstable way, and bumped into her car and other obstacles. Allen again was asked if she had taken any drugs or consumed alcohol; she again allegedly denied consuming either.

Allen told Hobbs, according to the probable cause affidavit, a 16-year-old child was in the residence. Hobbs re-entered the residence for a second check and instructed Allen to put a diaper on the child.

While attempting to check the residence, Hobbs wrote, Allen was unable to keep control of the child. The child followed Hobbs as he was walking up the stairs, still without a diaper. Hobbs picked the child up and took the child back to Allen who was sitting on a chair in the living room smoking a cigarette. Hobbs wrote Allen appeared to be in a daze and unaware of the child. She was instructed for a second time to put a diaper on the child. While clearing the second floor, according to the probable cause, Hobbs exited a room and the child was on the second floor with him, still not wearing a diaper, while Allen was on the first floor. Hobbs continued to clear the second floor, with the child, as he wrote it was clear Allen was unable to keep the child from using the stairs. The residence was cleared and no one else was found to be in the house.

Upon returning to the first floor, Hobbs instructed Allen for the third time to put a diaper on the child. According to the probable cause, Allen was unable to complete this task due to her state of impairment; therefore; Hobbs placed the diaper on the child.

When asked where the other child was, Allen alleged she might be with another family member. When exiting the residence to go to the police department, the teenager and family member arrived. Both were released in the care of the family member.

While at the police station, according to the probable cause Allen denied using any substances, then became quiet when Hobbs confronted her with his observations leading to his belief she was impaired.

Due to Allen's obvious impairment, the fact that the child was walking unsupervised in the parking lot and near the road, as well as Allen's clear inability to provide the care and supervision necessary to ensure the child’s safety due to her impairment, Hobbs transported her to Greene County General Hospital for medical clearance and then transported her to the Greene County Jail.

She was booked into Greene County Jail at 9:15 p.m. on charges of neglect of a dependent. Her bond was set at $4,000 surety with 10% allowed. She posted $400 and was released later the same day.

She appeared in Greene Superior Court on May 15 for an initial hearing.