GRAND FORKS (AP) - A woman was arrested after her 2-year-old son was found outside a Grand Forks mobile home wearing only a shirt, shorts and boots when the temperature was 15 below zero and frantically pounding on the door to get inside, police said.
The child was taken to Altru Hospital, where he was found to be in good condition. His mother, identified as Jacki Vondal, 35, was taken to jail, police said.
Vondal could not be reached for comment. Jail officials said Monday night that she had been released after bail was set. No telephone listing for her was available.
Vondal was charged with felony reckless endangerment and child abuse and neglect. Her bail was set Monday at $2,500 on the child abuse-neglect charge and $1,000 on the reckless endangerment charge, jail officials said.
"He was checked over and he was fine," Police Capt. Kerwin Kjelstrom said of the child. "He couldn't have been outside more than four or five minutes in this temperature."
The temperature in Grand Forks was about 15 below zero with a wind chill factor that made it feel like about 38 below at the time child was found, about 8:30 a.m. Monday, police said.
Officer Wayne Schull said officers were called by someone who saw the child outside and found him pounding on the door of the mobile home, trying to get back in.
"He had tears frozen on his cheeks and snot frozen on his upper lip," Schull told the Grand Forks Herald. "He was obviously in distress about not being able to get in."
Schull said the boy had no sign of frostbite so he likely was not outside long. Inside, Schull said, Vondal was passed out drunk on her bed. Kjelstrom said the boy apparently got outside on his own.
At her bail hearing Monday, Vondal told Judge Lawrence Jahnke she plans to take part in an alcohol treatment program. Her next court appearance is scheduled Jan. 21.
Schull said the 2-year-old and Vondal's other child, a 5-month-old, are in the custody of county social services officials.
Posted in State-and-regional on Monday, December 15, 2008 6:00 pm Updated: 2:24 pm.
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