Two face child endangerment charges
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Two people face child endangerment and drug charges after McDonald police said they smelled a strong odor of marijuana while responding to a domestic call at a Midway home earlier this month.
Michael Shane Cook, 49, of 102 Noblestown Road, Midway, and Natalie M. McCartney, 41, of 152 McCracken Hill Road, Burgettstown, were charged Wednesday with two counts of endangering the welfare of children and one count each of possession of a controlled substance, marijuana and paraphernalia.
Police were called about 11:45 p.m. April 4 to Cook’s home for the reported dispute. When officers arrived, they said they smelled what they described in court documents as an “overwhelming odor of marijuana.”
McCartney told police that she and Cook got into an argument because he was going to take his grandsons, ages 6 and 7, home. They got into an argument when she stopped him from driving, police said. The two had been drinking heavily, according to police.
When McCartney called police, Cook fled, abandoning the two boys he was baby sitting, police said. Cook, according to police, was solely responsible for the boys. McCartney was highly intoxicated and not able to care for the children, they said.
Police said they tried calling Cook, but he never responded and did not go back to his home.
In addition to the suspected marijuana and paraphernalia, police said they found several unidentified pills in the house.
The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Gary Havelka. The two are scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Havelka May 19.