Mom Allegedly Used Drugs Near Toddler: Hopatcong Police

HOPATCONG, NJ— A Dover woman was arrested after police say she used drugs with her toddler in the room, Hopatcong Police said in a statement. Two others not related to the child were also arrested.

Police responded to a Lakeside Boulevard apartment after a woman who just left the residence reported a woman and two men were smoking crystal methamphetamine and marijuana with a child in the room. The tipster said the toddler was in wet diapers next to the mother, police said.

Melissa Shannon, 37, let police into the apartment, which police said had a "strong odor" of marijuana. She initially told officers the child was with her father, but eventually brought them into the room where the child was, police said.

Police found paraphernalia that could be used to smoke crystal meth, but said there was not enough to file a charge. They also found a glass pipe with marijuana residue.

Shannon was charged with endangering the welfare of a minor because of the drug paraphernalia and marijuana smell. The child was turned over to her father.

Two others in the apartment were arrested: Katherine Cane, 31, of Hopatcong and Mark Haseltin, 37, of Rockaway. Cane was arrested on an outstanding warrant in Patterson, and Haseltin was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after allegedly telling police the pipe was his.

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