A Pocahontas woman was arrested on Friday night in Lawrence County for allegedly driving under the influence and endangering the welfare of a minor. At 10:47 p.m. Lawrence County Dispatch received several frantic 911 calls reporting a red passenger car driving into oncoming traffic nearly causing several head on accidents. The first calls came in as the northbound driver was about to enter Lawrence County in the Sedgwick area. Officers in that area responded and caught up to the northbound vehicle and observed it swerving in and out of traffic.
Officers initiated a traffic stop in the 2006 red Audi which at first did not stop for the officers but after a short distance pulled to the shoulder of the road. Officers approached the vehicle and immediately reported the strong odor of intoxicants and to their surprise found a four year old female passenger in the vehicle. Lawrence County officers were assisted by the Arkansas State Police and Walnut Ridge officers.
The four year old child was taken into protective police custody. The driver of the vehicle Amber French Fontenot, age 33 of Pocahontas was arrested and charged with DWI #2 and endangering the welfare of a minor. She was transported to the Lawrence County detention center where she will be given a bond hearing.
No injuries were reported thanks to the quick action of local and state law enforcement.