Police: Day care provider found passed out in car with kids

Battle Ground police said they arrested a licensed day care provider Friday evening after finding her intoxicated and passed out in her minivan, with two small children of her clients inside, downtown during the annual East Main Street Trick or Treat event.

A man dressed as a pirate flagged down Officer Kyle Kinnan, who was on bicycle patrol during the crowded celebration, about 5:45 p.m. Friday, said Sgt. Kim Armstrong with the Battle Ground Police Department.

The officer found Sheila Kay Michalios, 45, of Yacolt, asleep in her green 1999 Dodge minivan. When he woke her, she smelled strongly of alcohol and fumbled to find her identification, Armstrong said. The officer also found open containers of beer in the car, police said.

The car was parked in the 500 block of East Main Street, in front of Central Park, and both vehicle and foot traffic were heavy, Armstrong said. The Halloween event had started at 4 p.m.

Two children, a boy 2½ and his sister, 16 months, were buckled in car seats, but the car seats themselves were not fastened properly to the minivan’s seats, Armstrong said.

“They could have been injured if there were a collision,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong said police had the children checked by medics. “Other than crying and frightened, they were fine and otherwise healthy. They had no food, no diapers, nothing in the vehicle for them.”

The two children’s parents are customers of Michalios’ licensed day care business in her home at 29500 N.E. 182nd Court in the Yacolt area, police said.

Officials with state Child Protective Services took custody of the two children and notified one of their parents. The CPS officials also have suspended Michalios’ day care license during an investigation, Armstrong said.

Police found a safe ride home for Michalios’ own daughter, who was trick-or-treating in the crowd, with a family friend.

Officers arrested Michalios on suspicion of two counts of reckless endangerment and took her to the Clark County Jail, according to a police bulletin. Later Friday night, she was being held on $1,100 bail for the alleged misdemeanor crimes, and is to make a first appearance in court Monday, a jail employee said.

Police said officers were unable to arrest Michalios for alleged DUI. Armstrong said police didn’t see her driving, and had found no witness who saw her driving, and thus lacked probable cause. In addition, she allegedly refused to perform alcohol breath tests and Armstrong said officers couldn’t legally require her to submit.

“Thankfully, someone let the officer know,” Armstrong said. “It’s unfortunate. It’s actually very sad. It’s horrible that the parents placed their trust in her to take care of their children, and she obviously didn’t do that. We’re thankful the kids are safe.”

John Branton: 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com.