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Police find drunk woman with four kids at carnival

Thursday, July 2, 2009
By Anna Rochelle, Staff Writer

A 30-year-old Bloomfield woman, who took four kids to the carnival in Linton on Wednesday evening and was reportedly so drunk she could barely stand, was arrested after a concerned carnival employee called police.

Connie A. Johnson was booked into the Greene County Jail on preliminary charges of four counts of class D felony neglect of a dependent and one count of public intoxication, a class B misdemeanor.

Cpl. Chad E. Crynes of the Linton Police Department responded to the carnival in Linton's Humphreys Park around 7 p.m. after police received a complaint from a carnival employee about an intoxicated female who had children with her.

According to a police report, the officer located the female walking with the children and while observing her, he saw her almost fall to the ground while holding the hand of a young child. She was staggering and having difficulty standing and speaking.

Crynes wrote in the report, "Upon contact, I could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her breath. Her speech was slurred and she was swaying from side to side while standing. She had four children with her."

With assistance from LPD Officer Debbie McDonald, the Greene County Office of Department of Child Services (DCS) was contacted and McDonald stayed with the children until a DCS caseworker arrived and took custody of the children.

Johnson was taken into custody and transported to the Greene County Sheriff's Department where field sobriety tests were administered -- the police report says she failed them all.

Johnson was placed under arrest and was being held in lieu of $16,500 bond.

Comments

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Doesn't the carnival just bring out the best in Greene County...!!! LOL

-- Posted by mom*of*6 on Thu, Jul 2, 2009, at 11:09 AM

WOW good canidate for Mother of the year! Geez those poor little kids.

-- Posted by luvngreeneco on Thu, Jul 2, 2009, at 11:35 AM

Glad to see the carnival worker was concerned. GOOD JOB!!!We know the James Gang's owners personally and most of workers are great people. How could a parent do that to their kids? How fun is it for a kid go with mom staggering around? Poor kids.

-- Posted by scoutmom on Thu, Jul 2, 2009, at 11:41 AM

You know you are really drunk when a carnie turns you in!!!

-- Posted by fatty66 on Thu, Jul 2, 2009, at 11:42 AM

I'll be the first to nominate her.....does anybody second that motion? lol! The best part of it all is that it was a carnival worker who called the cops....that just makes my day :-) Those poor kids though...probably didn't even know what was going on and it had to be embarrassing.

-- Posted by ejf_2005 on Thu, Jul 2, 2009, at 12:18 PM

My point exactly in an earlier comment about a incident at the carnival. Visitors to the carnival seem to be the "good, the bad and then the ugly."

-- Posted by ethelmertz on Thu, Jul 2, 2009, at 12:36 PM

That "Carnie" you people are making fun of probably saved at the very least, 4 lives. She had to get there somehow and that's what scary! Thank you whoever you are!

-- Posted by Hoosierxheart71 on Thu, Jul 2, 2009, at 2:17 PM

she must of hit all the bars from bloomfield to linton glad no one was hurt

-- Posted by big miner on Thu, Jul 2, 2009, at 2:31 PM

CLASS ACT

-- Posted by Bluetick_Hunter on Thu, Jul 2, 2009, at 4:32 PM

LMAO fatty66!

Hoosierxheart71, no one is making fun of this carnival worker, rather he's be complimented & rightly so. You have to admit the "carnival worker" profession comes with a well earned stigma that applies to some, not to all. Just like everything else.

And just like everyone, I'm really glad the kids weren't physically harmed.

-- Posted by Blueyedame on Thu, Jul 2, 2009, at 5:40 PM

I would like to thank the "CARNIE" that may have saved the lives of those children.

But, let me ask where were all the local people with cell phones. Why could they not step up to the plate or did they think this was part of the show. Maybe it takes a outsider to step up and put you in your place.

-- Posted by jeromel32 on Thu, Jul 2, 2009, at 10:11 PM

GOOD JOB TO THE CARNIVAL WORKER. THANK YOU FOR BEING CONCERNED ENOUGH TO GET INVOLVED AND PROBABLY SAVED THOSE CHILDREN'S LIVES AND ANYONE ELSE SHE MIGHT HAVE HURT OR KILLED ESPECIALLY IF SHE WAS DRIVING. HOW COULD A MOTHER OR ANYONE FOR THAT FACT BE SO DRUNK AND UNCARING FOR OTHERS. ESPECIALLY LITTLE INNOCENT CHILDREN? AGAIN, GOOD JOB TO THE CARNIVAL WORKER. MAY GOD REWARD YOU FOR YOUR GOOD DEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Posted by ROSEMARY on Fri, Jul 3, 2009, at 4:06 AM

I feel so sorry for the children..I am praying for them and the mother.

-- Posted by jk03mnths on Fri, Jul 3, 2009, at 8:25 AM

Sad indeed when a mother is so intoxicated that she thought nothing of it to drive drunk all the way to Linton with 4 kids and go to the carnival. The gentleman that called the authorities deserves to be commended for his prompt actions. I am shocked no one else had called the police.

-- Posted by dennisb1953 on Fri, Jul 3, 2009, at 9:27 AM

I have gotten to know these 4 children and they are all very sweet. They are with a relative right now and seem to be doing well. The 2 youngest ones helped me weed my garden Thursday evening and did a great job. I wish nothing but the best for them and I hope their mother gets the help she needs.

-- Posted by amgi on Mon, Jul 6, 2009, at 8:42 AM

Good job carnies!

-- Posted by wolverine1 on Tue, Jul 7, 2009, at 3:08 PM