Staff Report

Sydney Nicole McKinzie

WARSAW — A Warsaw woman was recently arrested for allegedly driving recklessly in a vehicle while a child was present.

Sydney Nicole McKinzie, 22, 502 S. Union St. Apartment 1, Warsaw, is charged with neglect of a dependent, a level 6 felony; and criminal recklessness, a class B misdemeanor.

On March 10, Warsaw Police officers conducted a welfare check regarding a person recklessly driving a vehicle, nearly hitting a tree while a child was inside the vehicle. Upon arrival at the scene, officers saw McKinzie and a child standing near a vehicle that still had its engine running. Law enforcement contacted medical personnel because McKinzie was having a difficult time breathing.

According to court documents, two witnesses showed officers video footage of McKinzie behaving erratically. In one of the videos, McKinzie placed the child in the vehicle without a car seat and drove away.

A third witness said he saw McKinzie place the child in the vehicle and drive around a building, nearly hitting a large tree two times.

McKinzie was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on March 23, with a $5,250 surety and cash bond.