Mother arrested for doing drugs with toddler on lap

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office booking photo of Jill Louise Waffle

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville mother is behind bars Wednesday after police said they found her doing drugs in her car with her 1-year-old daughter on her lap behind a Social Security office.

According to police, deputies got a call about a car that looked suspicious behind the office located on Bonneval Road and an officer was dispatched to check it out.

Recommended Videos



When the officer arrived he noticed a gray Pontiac Vibe with 33-year-old Jill Louise Waffle seated in the driver seat with her 1-year-old daughter on her lap and the car running and the windows rolled up.

The officer said when he approached the car he also noticed a small pipe on the front seat with smoke still coming from it.

Officials said that the officer had the woman roll down her window while asking her for her driver's license but was confronted with such a strong smell of smoke from the pipe that he asked Waffle to step out of the car.

After asking Waffle if she was smoking crack the officer said that she said no, but said that there was meth in the pipe, the officer said.

When asked if she was smoking meth in front of her daughter Waffle broke down in tears and said yes, that she was a drug addict who had fallen off the wagon and was doing drugs while waiting for her boyfriend, who was in the Social Security office, police said.

While the officer was searching Waffle he found meth and needles, both secured and unsecured, in her purse that the toddler could have stuck herself if she had gotten inside the bag.

Waffle was arrested and charged with intent to purchase methamphetamine, child abuse, DUI accompanied by a minor and driving with a suspended license.
 


About the Authors:

Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She reports for and anchors The Morning Show.