BARTHOLOMEW CO. – A Bartholomew County mother has been arrested after a child neglect report led to a drug investigation at her home.
According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to a residence in the 13,500 block of North U.S. 31 on Monday. The call came from a relative who discovered two children unsupervised in the home, while their mother was reportedly asleep on the couch with narcotics within reach of the children.
After an argument ensued with the witness, the mother, identified as 22-year-old Emily Deweerdt of Columbus, fled the residence. She was later located at a gas station on North National Road.
Deputies subsequently served a search warrant at the home. During the search, they recovered over 26 grams of suspected methamphetamine, various prescription medications, and drug paraphernalia, including narcotics packaging material and a digital scale.
Deweerdt was arrested on preliminary charges of dealing in methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, neglect of a dependent, and possession of a controlled substance.
The Indiana Department of Child Services was contacted, and the children were safely relocated.
