WARREN — Two women are facing child endangering charges in separate cases after incidents over the weekend in Warren.

Amber L. Bender, of Glenwood Street NE, appeared in court Monday on a charge of child endangering after her 5-year-old child was found unattended, having crossed a busy street alone, police said.

Bender pleaded not guilty during her jail arraignment Monday before Judge Natasha K. Natale in Warren Municipal Court.

A $25,000 bond was set with a condition that Bender have no contact with the minor child unless approved by Trumbull County Children Services. Her case is scheduled for a contested hearing Aug. 19 before Judge Patricia Knepp.

The incident occurred Friday, when Warren police responded to a call at about 8:25 p.m. at Bender’s residence. The child’s father reported finding his wife intoxicated and passed out on the couch, with their front door ajar. He told police that earlier that evening, around 8 p.m., their son had walked into his workplace roughly half a mile from their home.

The father said the child, when asked about his mother’s whereabouts, responded, “I don’t know.”

According to the police report, the father attempted to contact the mother by phone without success. A witness informed him that the child had nearly been struck by vehicles while crossing Elm Road.

Upon returning home, the father found the mother in an intoxicated state, unable to stand or speak clearly, with the smell of alcohol emanating from her, police said.

Officers encountered the mother attempting to walk away from the scene. She initially claimed “everything is fine,” but was later found staggering nearby on Glenwood Street NE.

She was arrested for child endangering, a misdemeanor, after observing her intoxicated condition. She was transported to Trumbull County jail, where she was placed in an intake cell due to her behavior, according to the report.

She admitted to drinking but downplayed the incident, police said. The child was unharmed.

SECOND CHILD ENDANGERING CASE

Another woman faces child endangering charges after police in Warren found her young son alone in a filthy home following a neighbor’s 911 call, authorities said.

Officers responded to the 2100 block of Draper Street SE around 9:44 a.m. Saturday after a caller reported seeing a boy, estimated to be 5 or 6 years old, walking unsupervised and calling for his mother. The child, described as black and wearing only black shorts with no shoes, was located at a residence where the front door was open, according to a police report.

An officer said they observed the boy standing inside, saying his mother had left. With no adults responding to knocks, officers entered the home because of concerns for the child’s safety and confirmed he was alone.

The interior was in disarray, with garbage scattered throughout, an overwhelming odor of rotten food and feces, flies and insects present, spoiled food in the refrigerator and freezer, and filthy bedding, the report stated.

No child’s bed was found, and police deemed the conditions unsuitable for a child or adults.

Trumbull County Children Services was notified and responded to the scene.

Agency workers said they had received prior similar reports involving the child and other children at the address. They identified the boy and his mother as the suspect, whose name was redacted in the report.

Police say attempts to locate the mother were unsuccessful.

Children Services took custody of the boy under emergency provisions and documented the home’s conditions with photographs.

The residence was secured before officers left.

Charges of endangering children were set to be filed Monday and a copy of the incident log was forwarded to the local health department.