Clint Riese
News Editor
A Forest Lake woman facing child endangerment charges made her initial appearance in Washington County District Court Thursday, Jan. 16.
Stephanie Jo Hendren, 27, also faces a felony charge of fourth-degree assault of a peace officer and a gross misdemeanor charge of obstructing the legal process. Child endangerment is a gross misdemeanor.
Hendren was arrested Jan. 1 at her Forest Lake residence.
From the complaint
The following allegations are according to the criminal complaint issued Jan. 3.
Around 7 p.m. Jan. 1, Forest Lake Police Department officers responded to the residence on a report of Hendren and her 1-year-old son being unable to be awoken. The complainant said Hendren’s 5-year-old daughter had come to her home, without shoes on, asking for help to wake her mom and younger brother.
Officers found Hendren to be confused and they administered a preliminary breath test, which measured a blood alcohol content of 0.25 percent.
Rotting food and other garbage littered the house, and there was no food suitable for children to eat. While officers talked to Hendren, she did not pay attention as her son nearly fell off the bed and stuck his finger in a light socket.
Hendren, who had been naked from the waist down, became combative as a female emergency medical technician tried to help her put on a pair of pants. Hendren spit on a police officer who attempted to restrain her. Once restrained, she attempted to bite another officer several times.
The children were taken into protective custody and placed with a foster family for the night.
Hendren is due back in court April 17.