Finnish police encountered a distressing scene when they visited a foster home in the Satakunta region. Officers found a nine-month-old baby crying in a bed while foster parents slept nearby.
The incident occurred during a September night when police responded to an emergency call. Authorities arrived at the family home around 1 AM. They discovered the infant crying in a bed while at least one school-aged child had woken up.
Four children were sleeping in the house while both foster parents consumed alcohol. The adults did not wake up when police entered the residence. Officers had to check on the children's condition before the foster mother awakened.
The foster father only woke up at 2:30 AM when police shook him by the shoulder. Both foster parents underwent breathalyzer tests. The foster mother registered 0.69 mg/l of alcohol in her breath, while the foster father measured 0.71 mg/l.
In Finland, the legal limit for aggravated drunk driving is 0.53 mg/l, which equals 1.2 per mille blood alcohol content. Both adults exceeded this threshold while responsible for four children.
The prosecutor states the foster parents endangered the children's lives or health. These children were temporarily in their care through the child protection system. The children were particularly vulnerable due to their age and dependency on caregivers.
Foster parents denied all allegations in their court response. They claim they put the children to sleep at 8 PM before consuming some mild alcoholic drinks. The adults went to sleep around midnight since the foster father had the next day off work.
They maintain they remained functional despite drinking alcohol. The children slept peacefully until police arrived and entered the house, according to their statement.
The prosecutor seeks short conditional prison sentences or substantial fines for child abandonment. Satakunta District Court will issue its verdict later. This case highlights the serious responsibility foster parents carry for vulnerable children in their care.
The contradictory accounts between officials and the accused parents will require careful examination by the court. The high alcohol levels measured suggest the adults were in no condition to properly care for young children during the night.