FORTVILLE — Two people were booked into the Hancock County Jail after police found drugs and paraphernalia in the Fortville apartment they shared with a young child, according to court documents.
Neighbors of 30-year-old Michelle Brown and 24-year-old Jacob Anderson called 911 last week after hearing the pair shouting at each other while a young child cried in the background.
When police arrived at the apartment in the 700 block of North School Street in Fortville, they searched the home and found drugs and paraphernalia inside along with a crying preschooler, court documents state. Brown, the child’s mother, admitted she’d used drugs in front of the boy, court documents state.
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Brown now faces five criminal charges, including neglect of a dependent, records show. Anderson faces three criminal charges related to drug possession.
Anderson answered the door when police arrived on the night of the incident, and officers immediately noticed signs of drug use, according to court documents.
Anderson had red marks and bruising on his arms — a telltale sign of intravenous drug use, police said. Anderson’s skin was pale and clammy, and he appeared nervous, police said.
“Given the caller’s statement, and the marks on Anderson, officers entered the apartment to … further investigate,” court documents state.
Officers found Brown hiding inside a bedroom closet, holding onto a dog, court documents state.
Brown told the police she was hiding because she wasn’t supposed to have a dog in the apartment. She also showed signs of drug use, nervously rocking back and forth and fidgeting, police said.
Brown admitted to fighting with Anderson, though she told police their argument never became physical, court documents state.
Brown told police Anderson was recovering from an addiction to heroin, and she used cocaine and abused prescription pills, including Adderall, court documents state. She told police she’d inject cocaine while alone with her son, court documents state.
Inside the home, investigators discovered two hypodermic needles; a spoon with white residue on it that tested positive for narcotics; a marijuana pipe; and burned marijuana leaves.
The child was removed from Brown’s care and placed in the custody of a relative, police said.
Brown and Anderson were arrested and charged. Each made an initial court appearance Friday.
Brown faces one Level 6 felony count of possession of cocaine; one Level 6 felony count of unlawful possession of a syringe; one Level 6 felony count of neglect of a dependent; one Level 6 felony count of maintaining a common nuisance; and one Class C misdemeanor of possession of paraphernalia.
Anderson faces one Level 6 felony count of unlawful possession of a syringe; one Level 6 felony count of possession of cocaine; and one Class C misdemeanor of possession of paraphernalia.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.