Police arrested an Oakdale woman, Tuesday, Oct. 19 for child endangerment after reportedly leaving her autistic child alone with her 16-year-old for 12 hours and the younger child got a zip-tie stuck around her neck.

According to reports, officers were dispatched to an Oakdale home to investigate a report of an autistic 5-year-old who had placed a zip tie around her neck. The girl was transported to a local hospital to have the zip tie removed. During the investigation, officers discovered that the mother, a 37-year-old woman, left the children alone for approximately 12 hours without leaving a contact number or a way to be contacted as the cell phone was only capable of calling 911.

The 5-year-old got the zip tie stuck around her neck and alerted her sibling who called for help.

The mother was arrested when she returned home on child endangerment charges. Officers also found a loaded .22 caliber gun, several grams of methamphetamine, and nearly $800 in her vehicle.

Child Protective Services took custody of both children.