A North Little Rock woman found intoxicated under an outdoor picnic table early Wednesday had earlier left two young children alone so she could go drinking, authorities said.
Erica Meredith Clesi, 39, was arrested about 1:15 a.m. after officers responded to a report of an intoxicated woman passed out under a table in the yard outside a home in the 500 block of West 51st Street, according to a North Little Rock Police Department report.
Officers reported finding Clesi on the ground in the driveway with a "picnic table flipped upside down on top of her." She had a strong odor of intoxicants on her breath, bloodshot and watery eyes and slurred speech, according to the report.
Police later learned Clesi had left a 4-year-old child and a 2-year-old child at her home across the street since about 9 p.m. the night before when she went to the neighboring residence to drink, the report said.
Authorities went to Clesi's home and found the children asleep in a rear bedroom. According to the report, the house was "very messy," with dirty dishes piled on the counter and clothes and trash on the floor.
The Department of Human Services was called to take custody of the children.
Clesi was booked into the Pulaski County jail on charges of public intoxication and endangering the welfare of a minor. She was no longer listed as an inmate there Thursday morning.