The Napa Police Department has arrested a suspect for Child Endangerment and Driving Under the Influence. NPD reports that the Napa Fire Department responded to the Starbucks at 3375 Jefferson Street for a report of a sick subject on June 9, 2024.
NFP personnel reached the scene and located Leslie Tapia who was allegedly extremely intoxicated. Tapia was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Tapia allegedly told medical personnel that she did not know where her vehicle or two-year-old child were.
NPD says Tapia last remembered being at the Kennedy Park duck pond with her child and thought she may have left the child inside her vehicle. Authorities began searching the park for the vehicle and the child. Officers also searched Tapia’s residence but were unable to find the vehicle or child.
NPD officers visited the Starbucks on Jefferson Street where they found the vehicle and child near McDonald’s. NPD says the child was still inside the vehicle secured in their car seat. The child appeared to be wet and shaking.
The child was treated at an area hospital before being released to family members. NPD alleges that Tapia’s actions placed the child in conditions likely to produce great bodily harm or death. It was also determined that she had been driving under the influence.
Tapia was booked into the Napa County Jail. Napa County Child Protective Services were notified of the incident.
Jay Skelton is an independent crime journalist with a passion for covering the uncovered and the under covered.