Thursday, May. 19, 2011

Mom alleged to have allowed toddler around drugs

Mother was doing methamphetamine, police said

A woman was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment Tuesday after she allegedly allowed her toddler around illicit drugs.

Officer Paul Llanez responded to the 800 Block of Illinois Avenue at 12:48 p.m. to investigate a report that a child was being exposed to drug smoke inside an apartment.

Llanez spoke with 33-year-old Marina Ortega and 43-year-old Edward Ordunez. The officer also located a one-year-old female in the residence who displayed symptoms of being under the influence of drugs, police said. The officer learned that the mother, Ortega, had been smoking methamphetamine in the presence of the child for several days.

The child was immediately given medical treatment and released to the custody of a Child Protective Services agent.

Ortega and Ordunez were placed under arrest and taken to the Los Banos Jail. Ordunez has been released and is scheduled to appear in the Merced County Superior Court on July 18.

He faces a charge of being under the influence of a controlled substance. Ortega remains in custody in lieu of $50,000 bail.