A 43-year-old Yardley woman was arrested and charged by Lower Makefield Township Police (LMT) for allegedly endangering the welfare of her minor daughter while driving under the influence after a Wegman’s employee voiced concerns to police about the safety of the child.
On-call District Judge Michael W. Petrucci arraigned Corrine Cooke on a felony charge of a parent endangering the welfare of a child and a DUI misdemeanor of first offense charge.
Petrucci set bail at 10 percent of $25,000.00. with a hearing set for Jan 20.
LMT Police were approached by an employee of Wegman’s on January 12. The concerned employee directed the officer’s attention to a female entering a white Honda SUV parked in the parking lot. The Wegman’s employee told officer they refused to sell Cooke alcohol due to her being intoxicated. The employee said she was concerned because the woman had a small child with her.
The responding officer then drove the patrol vehicle over to the SUV. While doing so the vehicle backed out of the parking space and drove forward. The vehicle then drove on the left side of the roadway and struck a black pickup truck. Both the pickup truck and the SUV had to swerve to avoid a collision.
Police then activated emergency lights and sirens to stop the SUV in the Wegman’s Market parking lot. The vehicle came to a stop and a woman exited the vehicle and threw her hands up yelling. “What!”. I gave the woman commands to remain in her vehicle and she complied.
Police spoke with the female, confirmed to be Cooke, at her open driver’s side door. The officer immediately smelled alcohol emanating from her and from her breath. Her minor daughter was with her in the vehicle. Cooke was asked if she had anything to drink and she stated she had been drinking wine. Cooke slurred her words and spoke slowly. She was then asked to exit the vehicle and stand in front of the police vehicle. She was unsteady on her feet and walked unsteadily.
Unprompted, Cooke said refused field sobriety testing and did not want to answer the officer’s questions, according to the criminal complaint.
While waiting for another unit to arrive on scene Cooke attempted to walk back to her vehicle multiple times yelling, “Please just let me go home.”
Officers advised the apparently drunk woman multiple times that she was detained and not free to leave. She tried again to walk back to her vehicle one more time prompting LMT police officers to place Cooke in wrist restraints and then arrest her.
According to police, she was impaired and unfit to operate a motor vehicle in the Commonwealth. Cooke also created a substantial risk to her daughter’s safety by operating a motor vehicle while impaired, violating her duty of care and endangering her daughter. Cooke was advised she was under arrest.
Police transported Cooke back to Lower Makefield Twp Police Headquarters. While conducting the transport, according to police, Cooke openly said, “I was drunk I shouldn’t have drove.”
At Police HQ she was read the PA Implied Consent Warning or the Refusal of Chemical Test Form (DL-26B) form. Cooke consented to a blood draw which was conducted at 11:00 p.m.
Cooke’s daughter was also transported back to police headquarters.
The Bucks County Children and Youth responded to assist. Cooke was processed and held until arraigned and bail was posted.
Cooke is scheduled for a hearing set for Jan 20 at Morrisville District Court.
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