ICYMI: Andover Mother Arrested for OUI After Dropping Daughter Off at School: Police

ANDOVER, MA — An Andover woman was arrested Monday after allegedly dropping her daughter off at school while under the influence of drugs, police announced Tuesday.

Mary Ellen Shay, 41, was arrested after police determined she was under the influence of drugs while dropping her daughter off at the Bancroft Elementary School Monday morning. Shay is charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs, wanton/reckless behavior to a child and the unlicensed operation of a vehicle.

“This is an extremely unfortunate situation where this parent put her life and her child’s life at risk by operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs,” Chief Patrick Keefe said in a statement. “We are thankful that no one was injured.”

Police responded to the school at 10:30 p.m. on a report of a woman that appeared to be impaired while dropping her daughter after school, according to the announcement. Investigators later learned that Shay had pulled into a parking lot in front of the school and then escorted her child in to school.

While signing her daughter into the logbook, staff members noticed that Shay was having difficulty and appeared to be mumbling incoherently and called police.

Shay was booked at the Andover Police Department and later released on bail. The Department of Children and Families was notified of the incident.

Editor's Note: The story above was derived from information provided by the Andover Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.