An Alabama mother is facing criminal charges after police say she arrived drunk to pick up one of her children from school while a younger child rode in the backseat.

According to the Birmingham News, 37-year-old Mary Elizabeth Stevenson pulled into the pickup line outside of Fort Payne Middle School around 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

At that time, reports indicate Patrick Jenkins, a school resource officer, acted on a tip he received regarding a possibly intoxicated parent.

The tip reportedly came in prior to Stevenson’s arrival at the school and warned the mother was on her way to pick up her child, according to WDEF.

Fort Payne Police Chief Randy Bynum confirmed Stevenson was arrested at the school. He said a child who was too young for school was riding with the suspected drunk driver.

Bynum pointed out the arrest was a far preferable to other possible outcomes that afternoon.

“There could have been many other lives in danger because of her actions,” he said.

As WHNT reported, police said they had reason to believe Stevenson was under the influence of alcohol and found the young child in her car.

After officers identified her as the suspect referenced in the earlier tip, police arrested her and transported her to the Fort Payne Police Department. She was booked into jail under $2,000 bond.

She now faces charges of driving under the influence and endangering the welfare of a child.

[Featured image: Mary Stevenson/Fort Payne Police]