A few days ago, just after 4 pm, a mother was arrested by police while waiting to pick up her son after school. The reason, officers say, is because she was under the influence of illegal drugs while behind the wheel, and that after her son got off the bus, she would likely have driven him home while still high.

 

The incident took place in Traverse City on Tuesday afternoon. Traverse City Police records show that the mother in question was sitting in her car, waiting for her 5-year-old son to get off the bus after school, when other parents nearby noticed that she was nodding off behind the wheel of her 2005 Chrysler Town and Country minivan. Concerned, someone called 911 and reported to Central Dispatch what they probably suspected was a drunk driver.

 

But as it turns out, alcohol was not the problem. Police who responded to the scene said that to begin with, there was the issue of the woman’s car. Apparently she was parked on Washington and Rose Street, partially blocking the flow of traffic. But what caused the most uproar was what officers found inside her vehicle.

 

Police found both cocaine and another drug, which officers were later able to identify as Midazolam. Responding officers also noted in their report that the woman was obviously under the influence of drugs when they encountered her. Midazolam is used for Reducing anxiety or producing drowsiness before certain medical procedures or surgery. It may also be given continuously to maintain sedation or anesthesia in certain patients.

 

Because Midazolam is most commonly used in dental procedures and is only available by prescription, police investigated and discovered that the drug in question had been stolen from a dentist’s office in Traverse City. According to Travers City Police Chief Jeff O’Brien, further investigation reveals that the dentist whose office was robbed is not involved in any way.

 

The woman, a 33-year-old, was arrested at the scene for Driving under the influence of intoxicants, and Larceny from a building. She was transported from the scene of the arrest directly to Munson Medical Center to test her blood for traces of drugs. Her son was placed with family members for now, but police have reported the incident to Child Protective Services, who will be investigating the family.