At around 7:55 PM on May 27, 2026, officers were sent to the intersection at Snelling and University Avenues, St. Paul, Ramsey County on a woman passed out in a stroller who had a young child sitting on the concrete near her. Officers found CHERYL ANN HELLMERS [DOB REDACTED] in a child’s stroller with her eyes closed. An officer greeted Hellmers and noted her speech was slurred, and she kept closing her eyes. Hellmer’s 3- year-old child, KS, sat around 3 feet from the curb of the busy intersection.
When told officers were concerned about KS, Hellmers replied, “I wasn’t watching her.” Hellmers indicated her uncle, CB, was watching KS. Upon hearing Hellmer’s statement CB shook his head negatively. When again told officers were concerned for KS’s welfare, Hellmers threw off the bags she had around her shoulders and accused an officer of wanting to fight. Hellmers called an officer a b**** and got upset because she thought officers were going to take KS from her. Officers repeatedly asked Hellmers where she lived and if she had anyone sober who could come get her and KS. Hellmers did not answer.
Hellmers said she needed her phone. Hellmers went to the stroller, grabbed a folded-up buck knife, and threw it to the ground. Hellmers grabbed the stroller and threw it around in frustration. Officers placed Hellmers in handcuffs and arrested her. Hellmers did not pay any attention to KS when officers were speaking to her. Officers searched a purse Hellmers had in her possession and found a bag of suspected methamphetamine. RC told police he had exited a train at that location around 7:30 PM. RC said Hellmers had been asleep in the stroller since that time.
RC bought water bottles for Hellmers and KS, and other people gave them food. RC said KS had been walking around and “screaming crying.” RC said neither Hellmers nor CB were paying attention to KS. CB denied he was in charge of or watching KS, and he said Hellmers had too much to drink. CB said he knew Hellmers from years ago when they were homeless. Hellmers had been sober at one point, but she wasn’t acting like herself and must have relapsed. CB said KS was about to run out into the street, and there were “all those weirdos walking through there.” CB denied he was related to Hellmers, and he said Hellmers was falling asleep.
Medics transported KS to Children’s Hospital. The contents of the bag recovered from Hellmer’s purse tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine and weighed 0.24 grams. Hellmers was advised of her constitutional rights and agreed to speak to police. Hellmers admitted drinking alcohol before her arrest. When asked about the methamphetamine found in her purse, Hellmers admitted using on May 27, 2026, but she did not admit what substance she used. Hellmers said she had been going through a stressful time and needed help.
