A Fort Wayne woman was arrested after allegedly leaving a minor unattended in a motel.
Natalie R. Hammons, 39, Fort Wayne, is charged with neglect of a dependent, a level 6 felony; and possession of a controlled substance with enhancing circumstances, a level 6 felony.
She was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 9:02 p.m. Sept. 28 on a $5,250 preliminary bond.
According to the probable cause affidavit, North Webster Police Department responded to a call about a woman, later identified as Hammons, outside a motel allegedly acting erratic and yelling and cursing at other people.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers spoke to a motel employee who said Hammons left a minor inside the motel and walked to a gas station. The employee said they could hear the minor crying.
An officer located Hammons near the gas station. Hammons said she went to the gas station because she did not want any problems at the motel. Hammons said she did not have a good reason to leave the minor unattended. Hammon tested at .172% BrAC on a portable breath test.
The officers returned to the motel to speak with the employee. The employee said they went to a room in the motel and saw trash and alcohol containers all over the floor and found the minor crying in the middle of the room. The minor was later picked up.
Hammons’ purse was located inside the room and was provided to the officers. An officer located inside the purse a clear plastic bag with a yellowish white rocklike substance that later field tested positive for bath salts, a schedule II-controlled substance.