OTTUMWA – Police arrested an Ottumwa woman this week after authorities found her autistic child alone and unsupervised at the Ottumwa High School football stadium.

Court documents state that on Monday night at around 8:05pm, police found an unaccompanied child at Schafer Stadium. The child was later discovered to be autistic and police noted that he was unable to care for himself; he was described as wearing only a pair of soiled underwear, shoes, and a backpack.

Police say that multiple attempts were made by officers to contact DHS, but they were unable to do so; they also attempted to contact the child’s mother, who was identified as 51-year-old Amy Heiss of Ottumwa, but could not reach her.

Later that evening, Heiss was found at a residence on East 4th street, and according to court records, she told law enforcement officers that she had been sleeping. Police say that Heiss was observed as being unable to walk without support and was losing her balance, and she reportedly told police that she had consumed alcohol and anxiety medication.

Following this incident, Heiss was arrested and transported to the Wapello County Jail, and she was charged with Neglect or Abandonment of a Dependent Person, which is a class C felony.