POLK COUNTY, FLA - Deputies arrested a woman who they said put a child’s life in danger.
Michelle Snover is charged with DUI with property damage as well as neglect, child abuse without bodily harm.
Deputies said Snover drove into a retention pond last night. There was a child in the car that managed to escape and the child ran to a house for help.
A person in the Mulberry neighborhood called 911.
“This girl is drunk like so bad,” said the 911 caller.
The dispatcher responded, “Has she said anything about what happened? Does she know what happened?”
The caller replied, “I didn’t even ask her. Michelle, don’t get up. You’re going to fall and hurt yourself okay.”
During the 911 call, the stranger consoled the child.
“Come here, honey. Come here. It’s fine,” the 911 caller said to the child.
People did not know what to do.
“I’m afraid to let my husband even go in the water ‘cause there’s a gator in there,” the 911 caller told dispatch.
Sheriff Grady Judd said Snover works as an emergency room nurse.
“Michelle, for all the wonderful things you do in the emergency room and — you truly are a person that saves lives — you know better,” Sheriff Judd said.
The sheriff said Snover sounded confused and claimed she could drive even after the crash.
“She didn’t recognize she was intoxicated out of her mind or that she was not capable of driving. She didn’t know here she was,” Sheriff Judd said.
ABC Action News went to Snover’s listed address. There were people in the home who did not want to comment. They said “no comment” and “go away”, before shutting the door.
ABC Action News contacted Lakeland Regional Health, regarding Snover. Jennifer Audette, the Lakeland Regional Health Manager of Editorial Services responded with this statement:
“We do not comment on personnel matters. Lakeland Regional Health’s policy requires a registered nurse to report such an incident to the Board of Nursing, comply with Board review, and be fit for duty.”
