Bartholomew County mother arrested after child neglect call

A Bartholomew County mother has been arrested, after a child neglect report led to a drug investigation.

According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called to a home in the 13,500 block of North U.S. 31 on Monday by a relative who found two children had been left home unsupervised, while the mother slept on the couch. Nearby were narcotics within reach of the children.

After the witness got into an argument with the mother, she fled from the house. The woman was identified as 22 year old Emily Deweerdt of Columbus. She was later found at a gas station on North National Road.

Deputies served a search warrant on the home and recovered over 26 grams of suspected methamphetamine, various prescription medications, drug paraphernalia including narcotics packaging material and a digital scale.

Deweerdt was arrested on preliminary charges of Dealing in Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Neglect of a Dependent and Possession of a Controlled Substance.

The Indiana Department of Child Services was contacted and the children were relocated.