Cedar Rapids woman accused of leaving children home alone, drinking with neighbor

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Cedar Rapids woman is accused of leaving her four children - including one as young as 3 years old - home alone while she drank with a neighbor.

According to a Linn County attorney's Office criminal complaint, on Feb. 27, 28-year-old Whitney F. Rice left her children - ages 3, 4, 6 and 8 - home alone at her J Street SW residence while she went to a neighbor's residence to drink alcohol.

The criminal complaint states that when police responded and placed Rice under arrest, she kicked a responding officer in the knee and thigh and actively resisted arrest.

Rice faces four counts of child endangerment and one count of interference with official acts. She is scheduled to be arraigned on those charges on April 9, according to online court records.