South Strabane police charge two with child endangerment
South Strabane Township police arrested a Canonsburg man and South Strabane woman with child endangerment after finding a 3-month-old boy on the passenger side floor of their vehicle Wednesday night.
Jeramy R. Ross, 32, of 114 Roberts Lane, and Virginia Gale Smith, 34, of 155 Sunset Drive, Washington, are also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia in addition to endangering the welfare of children.
Police had been on patrol at Strabane Square about 8:20 p.m. when they noticed a vehicle, with the hazard lights on, parked and blocking two handicapped parking spaces near Petsmart. Police said the driver, identified as Ross, appeared nervous and did not listen to commands. Both were ordered out of the vehicle.
When Smith got out, police spotted an infant wrapped in a blanket on the front, passenger side floor near where her feet would have been resting. Police found needles and pipes in the car as well as a needle in Smith’s jacket. The vehicle also was filled with garbage. Police said there was no infant safety seat inside the vehicle for the baby.
Washington County Children and Youth Services was contacted and a caseworker took custody of the infant.
Both were arraigned Thursday morning before District Judge Larry Hopkins and placed in Washington County jail on $25,000 bond. They are scheduled for a Dec. 3 preliminary hearing before District Judge Jay Weller. Smith is also in jail for violating terms of her probation after pleading guilty to a retail theft charge earlier this year.