Two Dutchess County women arrested following welfare check – Suspected opioid overdose

                        WARD   
LASKO

Pleasant Valley, New York – On July 19, 2017, New York State Police from the Poughkeepsie barrack charged 38-year-old Tamara E. Ward of Poughkeepsie, NY, with Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated under Leandra’s Law, a Class E Felony, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7^th Degree, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Misdemeanors.  Also arrested was 40-year-old Jennifer A. Lasko of Pleasant Valley, NY, for Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A Misdemeanor.

On July 19, 2017 at approximately 2:50 p.m., Troopers were dispatched by Dutchess County 911 to check the welfare of two unresponsive females inside of a vehicle at the Garden Apartments, located on Route 44. DC911 notified responding patrols that a child was also located inside of the vehicle.

Patrols arrived on scene and discovered both females, Ward and Lasko, unresponsive and not breathing due to a suspected opioid overdose. Naloxone was administered to both women and the 1 ½ year old child was immediately removed from the vehicle as he was sweating profusely.  After one dosage of Naloxone, Lasko regained consciousness and started breathing.  Ward was given one dose of Naloxone and remained unconscious. Pleasant Valley EMS arrived on scene and administered an additional four doses of naloxone to Ward before she regained consciousness.  Ward, Lasko, and Ward’s child were all transported to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital for an evaluation.

An investigation revealed that Ward had driven the vehicle from Poughkeepsie to Pleasant Valley while under the influence of heroin.

With the assistance of CPS, the child was turned over to a family member following his discharge from Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital.

Lasko was discharged from the hospital and issued an appearance ticket directing her to appear in the Town of Pleasant Valley Justice Court on July 25, 2017 at 5:00 p.m.  Ward was arraigned in the Town of Pleasant Valley Justice Court and remanded to the Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.  Ward is due to reappear in Pleasant Valley Court on July 21, 2017 at 4:00 p.m.