Muncie mother arrested for reckless driving with toddler in back seat

MUNCIE, Indiana – A Muncie woman was arrested for reckless driving with a child in the back seat of a car.

According to an arrest affidavit, a Delaware County Sheriff’s deputy first noticed 36-year-old Kristi Lei Cain as she drove west on Bethel Avenue on Thursday. The deputy, who was in an unmarked vehicle, saw Cain driving a green Dodge Stratus at a high rate of speed.

According to court documents, the same deputy later saw Cain run a stop sign on Bethel Avenue. The deputy continued to pursue Cain after she ran the stop sign.

As the deputy continued to observe their activities, Cain ignored a second stop sign and began weaving through traffic on Bethel Avenue between westbound vehicles.

According to court documents, Cain had a large towel on her head. The officer reported that Cain did not have her hands on the steering wheel while driving because she was using them to dry her hair.

According to court documents, Cain ran a red light before eventually stopping and driving into the parking lot of a medical facility. The police officer who had been pursuing her then turned on his hazard lights and drove into the clinic behind her.

As the officer approached the Stratus that Cain was driving, he noticed an 11-month-old child in the back seat of the car. Court records show the child was not properly restrained in the back seat of the vehicle.

While speaking with the deputy, Cain said she was late for an appointment at the medical facility. Police later learned that her driver’s license had been suspended and that there was a warrant out for her arrest for driving with a suspended license.

Police arrested Cain at the scene and a member of her family arrived to take custody of the toddler, who was sitting in the back seat of the Stratus.

Cain was preliminarily charged with reckless driving, a Class A misdemeanor, and neglect of a dependent, a Level 6 felony.

The maximum penalty for a Level 6 felony in Indiana is 2.5 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.