Lawton Mom Arrested For DUI With 2 Children In The Car In NW OKC

A Lawton woman was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) and child endangerment after police spotted a vehicle driving erratically near Quail Springs Mall in northwest OKC, Tuesday evening.

The officers were responding to the area, in the 2100 block of NW 140th St., on an unrelated call when they saw a 2014 Mazda SUV pull into the back parking lot of the Toys “R” Us store, and continuously stop and start. The officers also observed the vehicle’s windshield wipers running rapidly, even though it was not raining.

According to the report, as the officers got closer to the SUV they could see two children inside the vehicle, and even heard one child screaming, “Help us!”

The officers got out and approached the SUV and reported seeing the driver, 31-year-old Maria Todd, slumped over the center console. She then pulled herself upright by the steering wheel and saw the officers approaching.

As the officers got near the vehicle they noticed the smell of alcohol. And when they started to speak with Todd, they could detect a heavy odor of alcohol on her breath. The report states that Todd failed a number of field sobriety tests, before repeatedly asking, “I want to talk to my brother.” Todd refused to take a breathalyzer exam.

Police then arrested Todd, but first had the father of the two children, ages 2 and 4, pick up both the kids and the vehicle from the scene.    

Todd was transported to the Oklahoma County Jail on one count of Driving Under the Influence and two counts of felony Child Endangerment. Her bond was set at $63,000.