A Mesa mother was arrested on Wednesday after being accused of smoking marijuana in front of her children and leaving them home alone.
A neighbor at the apartment near Main Street and Extension Road had called police, and Mesa police said the children, both age 6, told an officer that it wasn't the first time they had come home from school at to an empty home.
Yvette Lopez, 36, faces five counts including child abuse, endangerment, and drug-related charges.
A Mesa police officer found an empty pill bottle at the residence, which one of the children said was for "bud."
"It appears the mom and boyfriend had been using marijuana in front of the children," said Mesa Police Det. Steve Berry. "They were very aware of what it was, where it was kept, those sorts of things."
Lopez was arrested when she arrived at the apartment two hours later, claiming she was out looking for a job, according to police.
Child Protective Services took custody of the children.
mwmike posted at 9:04 pm on Fri, Sep 28, 2012.
A real menace to society. SHE SMOKES POT! Lock her up, ruin her life, and throw away the key! She might even be MEXICAN!
IAB posted at 8:57 am on Sat, Sep 29, 2012.
Are the kids in any other harm. How is their health? I bet they know where you keep your beer too.
viborafan posted at 9:34 am on Sat, Sep 29, 2012.
Did they catch her with any pot or are they just going by what the neighbor said?
DrJCA1 posted at 9:37 am on Sat, Sep 29, 2012.
Just love the potheads that keep saying this garbage is perfectly OK. Any substance that alters your mental abilities can be dangerous. If you have kids and put them in any danger at all because of your "choices", they need to be removed from the immature and ignorant "parent". Want to smoke, drink, or drug yourself into a coma? Fine, just make sure that no children are around.
DrJCA1 posted at 9:40 am on Sat, Sep 29, 2012.
MWmike: just for the fun of it, let's look at a scenario. One of the kids gets ahold of her stash and eats it or inhales it while she's "having fun". This kid then thinks he can fly and walks off the balcony and gets killed. Will you show up at her trial and defend her choice to do stupid things while being responsible (used loosely) for her children?
Twin1 posted at 6:39 am on Sun, Sep 30, 2012.
MWmike, there is absolutely no excuse for this so-called mother to do drugs in front of her kids. The color of her skin makes no difference, either. Why you mentioned her possibly being Mexican indicates something about you, not her. Any mind-altering substance can affect the way a person thinks or acts, and to do this in front of kids is, very simply, selfish.