Deputies: Mom Passed Out, Had Drugs Within Baby's Reach

A Sarasota mother was arrested after deputies found her passed out and with drugs in reach of her 5-month-old son, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office reported Wednesday.

Deputies arrived at the woman's home in the 4600 block of Sloan Avenue just before 8 p.m. Tuesday after an anonymous caller requested a welfare check on a child.

When they arrived, they found Andrea Keesling, 42, unconscious and hanging off a reclining chair, sheriff's office spokesperson Wendy Rose said in a media release. Keesling's infant son was strapped in a car seat on the floor of the home with what later was found to be a crushed codeine pill about a foot away from him, Rose said.

The child, who has Down syndrome, was hungry and in need of a diaper change, according to the release. After numerous attempts to wake Keesling, she came-to when deputies shook her.

Keesling is charged with child neglect, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and obstruction.

She has an extensive criminal history of drug arrests, DUI and prescription fraud, the sheriff's office said.

The child was taken into custody by the Florida Department of Children and Families.

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