Police: L.I. Woman Found Slumped Over In Driver's Seat With Child In Car Faces DWI Charges
WILLISTON PARK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island woman has been arrested after police said they found her slumped over in the driver's seat of a car with a 3-year-old child strapped into a car seat in the back Monday afternoon.
Officers found Danielle Kalberer, 34, of Westbury inside a 2012 Toyota Camry that was stopped on Hillside Avenue in Williston Park with the front right wheel up on the curb and the engine running, police said.
The vehicle was found parked just feet away from the Nassau County Police precinct.
Kalberer was in possession of a prescription pill at the time of her arrest, police said. Authorities also said they found an empty bottle of vodka in the car.
She is charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated under Leandra's Law, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, endangering the welfare of a child, two counts of driving while intoxicated, and an additional count of aggravated driving while intoxicated.
She appeared in court Tuesday, sobbing and shaking. Prosecutors reported the school teacher registered a .25 on a breathalyzer test.
A judge released Kalberer Tuesday afternoon on bail.
"I think she needs to know that while the act may or may not be bad, the person isn't bad and we want to help her back to being a full human being," Kalberer's attorney Anthony Colleluori said.
A dozen family members were present at Kalberer's court appearance to show support, CBS 2 reported.
Langford reported a grandmother is now set to look after Kalberer's child, who was not injured. The judge has issued a stay away order, meaning Kalberer for now may have no contact with her daughter.
"The baby was born with spina bifida, which has created a tremendous amount of stress in the marriage," Colleluori said.
As CBS 2's Steve Langford reported, Kalberer most recently taught in the New York City Public School system.
The Department of Education says Kalberer has been an elementary school teacher at PS 24 in Queens for the past decade, but has been on leave for personal reasons since September.
Kalberer's husband is currently winding up a stay in rehab, Langford reported.
Kalberer herself will now head back for treatment as soon as possible while her criminal case continues.
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