DOVER TOWNSHIP, Pa.–A York County couple were arrested Monday after their 10-year-old son called 911 to say he was fed up with his parents’ drug addiction and found needles in their bedroom.
Lakin Michelle Stoppard, 27, and Anthony Edward Young, both of Dover Township, are each charged with endangering the welfare of children and possession of drug paraphernalia. Young is also charged with disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. The pair were arraigned Monday and have since posted bail.
Police responded to the 3700 block of Davidsburg Road on July 31 for a report of found drug needles. Officers with Northern York County Regional Police spoke with the boy and he told them he found the syringes and wrappers used to package heroin in his parents bedroom in their nightstand, according to the criminal complaint. The boy said he was aware of his parents past history with drugs and is tired of it, court documents state. He then showed officers the nightstand where he found several syringes.
Police obtained a search warrant and found eight syringes, one glass crack pipe, four blue glassine heroine packets, and several other drug-related items, documents state.
As police were on scene investigating–officers spotted Stoppard stumbling across a field from Lehr Park. Officers noticed Stoppard had glazed eyes, constricted pupils, raspy speech and poor balance. She became loud and irate when she approached police, according to court records.
When police tried talking with Stoppard about the drug paraphernalia found in her home, she became hostile and started yelling and screaming at investigating officers, the complaint stated.
Stoppard was taken into custody for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct.
Police reached out to Young on his cell phone and asked to meet with him, but Young refused. A warrant was issued for his arrest and he was taken into custody on Monday.
Meanwhile, police contacted Children and Youth Services to handle the custody of the boy.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for the pair on Aug. 22.
