Heather Hinkle, 33, of Celina, is facing a charge of child endangerment. She is accused of not watching her son, Benzen Hinkle, as he swam in deep water around 7 p.m. Sunday at Bryson Pool.
The boy was pulled from the water by Rachel Kimmel of Celina, police said. He was treated and released from a local hospital, where he was taken after his mother performed rescue breathing to revive him.
UPDATE @ 1 p.m. July 27
The Celina Police Department responded to two calls of near drowning incidents within the city of Celina this past weekend. Both victims have been released from area hospitals and are expected to be OK, Chief Tom Wale said Monday.
The most recent incident was about 7 p.m. Sunday at the city-owned Bryson Pool, when Wale said 3-year-old Benzen Hinkle was swimming in about 4 feet of water. A local mother, Rachel Kimmel of Celina said she found the boy floating face down and unresponsive and rescued the boy from the pool. Out of the water, his mother, Heather Hinkle, performed rescue breathing.
Benzen was taken to a local hospital and was treated and released.
The incident remains under investigation, Wale said.
On Saturday, another child was rescued from the water during Celina Lake Festival activities. Shortly after 3 p.m., 4-year-old Dandre Kelly of Sidney was strapped in a stroller on a concrete walkway at the water’s edge. His mother, Heather Samari, was playing with her two other children and Dandre’s father was watching him when he looked away for a moment and then saw his son’s stroller go off the sidewalk and into about 4 feet of water in Grand Lake St. Marys.
Witness Jerry Barger, 58, of Celina immediately jumped into the water and lifted the boy in his stroller out of the water. The child, who had been under for approximately 45 seconds, began spitting up water and gasping. Jenny Snider, a nurse from Celina, was also on scene and took charge of the child before police and medics arrived. Dandre was treated and released from a local hospital. Wale said this incident is considered an accident and no charges are expected.
FIRST REPORT, July 26
Two young boys had to be rescued from the water in as many days in one Mercer County community.
Today, a 3-year-old boy was pulled from the water this afternoon at the city swimming pool on Riley Street. The child was taken to a local hospital for treatment, but will be OK, said Celina Fire Chief Doug Wolters.
On Saturday, a 4-year-old boy was in a stroller that rolled down a pier around 3 p.m. and into Grand Lake St. Marys at Lakeshore Drive and Ash Streets in Celina.
Someone dove into the water and pulled that child out. He was treated and released from St. Marys Hospital, the chief said.