City woman accused of leaving three young children unattended
WOONSOCKET – A phone call from New York led to the arrest of a city woman Thursday on drunk driving and child neglect charges.
Police say Helen E. Valley, 32, left three children – ages 2, 10 and 12 – home alone for hours while she went out to a bar.
The call to the police came from the father of the children, who said he was away at work and had been informed of the situation by one of them. Police said he seemed very concerned.
Police arrived at Valley’s home at 26 Bellingham St. about 12:35 a.m. to check on the welfare of the children.
As the father suspected, they were home alone, according to police. Officers described the condition of the house as unkempt and strewn with food, with a
partially smoked marijuana cigarette in an ashtray that was easily accessible the children. One of the children was wearing a diaper that needed changing.
Police talked to the children, who told them their mother bought them pizza before she left, about five
hours earlier. They said it wasn’t unusual for her to leave them on their own.
“All three children appeared to be in good condition,” Officer Nicholas Maglio reported.
About 45 minutes after police arrived, Valley allegedly drove up in a white
sedan. She appeared to be intoxicated, according to police.
Officers said she smelled of alcohol and described her demeanor as unruly and combative.
Officer Robert Frye said he was working as the station officer when he saw two other police officers “physically carrying and escorting a highly intoxicated” Valley into the roll call room for a breath test.
Valley was “yelling and refusing to walk and being uncooperative” with the officers, Frye reported. Later, she was escorted to the cellblock area, and she began “screaming and banging on the cell door” to be released.
In addition to one count each of driving under the influence with an unknown BAC and cruelty to or neglect of a child, Valley was charged with refusal to sub
mit to a chemical test.
Child welfare authorities are expected to initiate a probe into the well-being of the children after police notified the state Department for Children, outh and Families about the circumstances of Valley’s arrest.
Police said the children were placed in the temporary custody of their grandparents, in East Providence, after their mother was taken into custody.
Valley, who has no prior arrest record, was released on personal recognizance following an appearance in Sixth District Court. She’s due back in court for another hearing on June 18, according to the judiciary’s web site.