Naperville mom charged with child endangerment
A Naperville woman known for being active in the community has been charged with endangering the life of a child, police say.
Mary Morrissey, 42, appeared to be highly intoxicated at the time of the incident that involved her 10-year-old son, according to Cmdr. Mike Anders.
Naperville police and firefighters responded to Morrissey's home at 810 Tulip Lane about 9:30 p.m. Aug. 17 for a report of the smell of natural gas.
Morrissey's son had spent the evening with a baby sitter who put a pizza in the oven before leaving the home. The pizza was cooking when Morrissey arrived and then began to burn. The boy tried to alert his mother but she was incoherent and unable to turn off the oven, Anders said.
The boy then called his grandfather who dialed 911. After firefighters determined there was not a gas leak, police attempted to interview Morrissey.
"When officers were conducting an investigation and talking to her she was very incoherent, very disoriented and had a strong odor of alcohol on her," Anders said.
Police administered a breath test and found Morrissey's blood alcohol level to be "about four times higher than the legal threshold for a DUI," Anders said.
She was transported to Edward Hospital where she was treated and released.
Morrissey later was charged with endangering the life of a child, a Class A misdemeanor, and is free after posting $300 of her $3,000 bond.
Her attorney, E. Barry Greenberg, says Morrissey is "innocent of the charge."
"This was a misunderstanding," he said. "All the facts were not known at the time of the arrest and if all the facts had been known it is unlikely any arrest would have been made."
Police did not conduct a DUI investigation. Anders was unsure of how Morrissey had gotten home the night of the incident.
Morrissey's son was placed in the care of a friend's family when Morrissey was taken to the hospital.
The Department of Children and Family Services is investigating. Spokesman Jimmie Whitelow said the department has not had prior contact with the family.
Morrissey has been active in the community over the years as a Naperville Township Republican precinct committeeman, member of the Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise, and part of a business partnership with Naperville Unit District 203.
She is scheduled to appear in DuPage County Circuit Court on Sept. 22.