'Drunken baking' leads to mom's arrest

A Muncie mother was arrested early Wednesday after she allegedly fell asleep, while intoxicated and baking cookies, with her four children in her apartment.

The smoke from the burning cookies activated an alarm about 1:30 a.m., and resulted in a neighbor calling 911.

When firefighters arrived at the apartment — at 2913 N. Elgin St. — they reportedly had to awaken 28-year-old Caitlin Marie Patterson, who was asleep in her bed. Her four children, who had been sleeping in the living room, were not injured, and were led to a neighbor's apartment.

A witness told police Patterson's apartment was "very smoky inside and smelled bad," adding she didn't see any flames.

Patterson had also been led to a neighbor's apartment when police arrived.

An officer wrote that she "staggered" as she approached him and "swayed as she stood."

A breath test measured her blood-alcohol content was 0.115 percent. In Indiana, motorists with a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher are considered intoxicated.





Police also said they found marijuana on Patterson's bed.

Child Protective Services officials were called to the scene. The four children were eventually placed in the care of their grandmother, according to a police report.

Patterson — preliminarily charged with four counts of neglect of a dependent and possession of marijuana — was being held without bond in the Delaware County jail.

Contact news reporter Douglas Walker at (765) 213-5851. You can also follow him on Twitter @DouglasWalkerSP.