"Beyond ridiculous:" Mom admits to strapping son to roof of minivan to hold plastic pool down

Amber Schmunk

OZAUKEE COUNTY -- A 28-year-old Fredonia woman is accused of taking her son on a very dangerous ride. Investigators say Amber Schmunk had her child ride on top of her minivan to hold down a plastic pool. She's now been charged with a felony.

"That woman needs to think the safety of her children," said Barbara Sellin, a neighbor.

According to the criminal complaint, on Saturday, September 9th at 3:05 p.m., officers were dispatched to the area of Hillcrest Road and Claremont Road in Saukville for reports of a child riding on top of a minivan, holding down a plastic pool.

CLICK the audio player below to listen to the 911 call associated with this case

Hillcrest Road and Claremont Road in Saukville

The complaint says Schmunk eventually pulled over and took her nine-year-old son off the roof, folded the pool and put it inside the van. She then pulled into her sister's driveway.

When police arrived, the complaint says Schmunk said "she believed it was OK as her father let her do things like that when she was that age." Police say she told them there wasn't enough room inside the minivan for the pool she had picked up.

The complaint says Schmunk stated she, "had no way to strap it down so she had her (son) climb on the roof to hold it down while she drove." Schmunk later told police she did strap the boy down inside the pool.

Saukville Police Department

No one came to the door at Schmunk's home or her sister's home for comment Tuesday, October 31st.

Schmunk was charged with second degree recklessly endangering safety -- a felony. She faces 10 years behind bars. She's due in court for her initial appearance on November 14th.