Arnold Police arrested a 32-year-old De Soto woman after she allegedly stashed a bag of methamphetamine behind the Quality Inn and Suites where she and her son were staying as guests. The Department of Family Services was called to take custody of the 7-year-old child, police reported.
Officers were called at about 1:05 p.m. Dec. 2 to the hotel, 3610 W. Outer Road, by a man who said he was the woman’s boyfriend. He met the officers in the hotel’s parking lot and told them the woman was in a room using drugs in her child’s presence, the report said.
A hotel clerk told the officers the woman was in a lobby bathroom, and she emerged a short time later with the child. The officers asked her if she had any illegal drugs, and she said no, according to the report.
The officers told the woman they believed she had a bag with drugs inside it and asked to see it. The woman told the officers the bag was in her boyfriend’s pickup, but when they went to the vehicle, there were no bags, Arnold Police reported.
The woman then reportedly said she left the bags at a Burger King, 3600 W. Outer Road, which is within walking distance of the hotel. However, when the woman and officers went to the restaurant, there were no bags in the dining area or turned into staff members, the report said.
The officers and woman returned to the hotel, where police searched the premises. They reportedly found a bag they believe belonged to the woman near a dumpster behind the hotel, according to the report.
A police dog inspected the bag and indicated there could be drugs inside. An officer searched the bag and allegedly found a bag containing a crystal-like substance, a smoking pipe and the woman’s passport, Arnold Police reported.
The woman was taken to the Police Station, where she was booked and released pending application for warrants. Depending on the results of drug analysis, Arnold Police will seek charges against the woman through the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for possession of an illegal substance and endangering a child, Cpl. Brett Ackermann said.