Father Charged with Child Endangerment After Incident Involving Marijuana

A 21-year-old father is facing charges of endangering the welfare of children, along with a charge of a DUI, possession of controlled substance and possession of an offensive weapon after an incident that occurred on July 22.

According to the criminal complaint, an Ellwood City police officer was patrolling the Ewing Park area after it was closed for the night, noticing a vehicle traveling towards the back of the park near the gates that were already secured.

The officer activated the flood lights and pulled up beside the vehicle, rolling down the window to speak with the driver. Immediately the officer detected an overwhelming odor of marijuana emanating from within the vehicle.

The officer asked if the driver had been smoking marijuana, to which the driver said he had not. The officer observed the defendant’s eyes being extremely bloodshot and glassy and a strong smell of marijuana emanating from his person.

The defendant was put through a series of sobriety tests which he failed and was then placed under arrest for driving under the influence of a controlled substance. A pair of brass knuckles was located in the defendant’s front right pocket.

The officer also identified a female backseat passenger and their three week old infant daughter in a car seat in the backseat.

The vehicle was searched and a half smoked marijuana blunt was in the ash tray in the center console of the vehicle.

Children and Youth Services were contacted, who did authorize to let the child leave with the mother on scene as drive the car away.

The defendant was transported to the Ellwood City Hospital for a consented blood test which showed positive for THC.