A River Falls woman took a child away from his grandparents without permission while out to eat at local restaurant. As a result, she’s facing numerous felonies.

Christie Ann Berg, 41, posted a $10,000 signature bond Dec. 4 in Pierce County Circuit Court on felony false imprisonment, felony throw/discharge bodily fluid at public safety worker or prosecutor, felony possession of methamphetamine and felony OWI-third (with passenger < 16 years old). The maximum penalty if convicted is six years in prison and/or up to $10,000 in fines.

According to the complaint:

At about 5:08 p.m. Dec. 1, River Falls police officers were dispatched to a possible kidnapping at Mariachi Loco (456 Spruce St.) Dispatch said the caller’s grandson had just been taken from the restaurant by Berg. The caller believed Berg was heading home to her rural River Falls address. Pierce County Sheriff’s Office went to Berg’s residence at 8638 940^th St., River Falls, while River Falls officers responded to Mariachi Loco. However, Berg returned to the restaurant.

The boy’s grandparents told police they had all been at dinner together, but Berg sat in a different booth and wouldn’t sit with them. They were going to buy her dinner but she wanted nothing to do with them. The boy nor the grandparents are related to Berg, they said. It’s not clear how they know Berg, but the grandmother said she had “just met her granddaughter.” Berg asked if the boy could visit her and the boy’s grandmother said yes, the boy could visit, but Berg took that as they meant yes, right now and took off with the boy without telling them where she lives or where she was going. The grandfather said he followed her out of the restaurant and told her to wait until the grandmother could “okay her actions.” Apparently, Berg looked at him and said, “I don’t know you” and disregarded what he was saying.

The boy said Berg placed him in the car without a car seat and told him they were going to a house. He said they went to a house and he was scared. His grandma was able to reach Berg by phone and ordered her to bring the boy back or she would call the police. Berg hung up on her but brought the boy back. The boy’s mother when called told the grandparents Berg was probably high and that he couldn’t go with her.

While speaking with Berg, police noticed her eyes were fluttering and she was involuntarily jerking her head. She would go from being cooperative to acting standoffish, crossing her arms and shining her phone’s flashlight in officers’ eyes. She also started taking photos of the grandparents’ license plate and recorded police interactions. Police believed her actions were indicative of methamphetamine use.

K-9 Ash from St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office responded to the location. Berg was asked to conduct field sobriety tests but stated she has a head injury. She refused to tell police what medications she takes because it’s a HIPPA violation. She was uncooperative during the tests and couldn’t follow instructions.

Once Berg was handcuffed and arrested, she demanded police retrieve her purse. She looked directly at a sergeant and spit at them. In Berg’s vehicle, police found two children sitting inside, along with burnt aluminum foil containing methamphetamine and fentanyl in the center console. Officers took Berg to River Falls Area Hospital for a blood draw then Pierce County Jail. Pierce County Human Services took custody of the two children in her vehicle.

Berg is scheduled to next appear in court for a preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. Dec. 14.