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Pair allegedly took heroin in front of 5-year-old

E-mail|Link|Comments () May 21, 2010 02:08 PM

By Stefanie Geisler, Globe Correspondent

Two New Hampshire residents were arrested this week in Haverhill after they were found taking heroin in front of a 5-year-old child, police said.

Nicholas Short, 26, and Ramona Wilson, 23, both of Rochester, N.H., were arrested about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Haverhill Deputy Police Chief Donald Thompson said. The arrests came after officers responded to a report of suspicious activity in the Crystal Lake Road area, Thompson said.

"As they checked the area, they found a suspicious silver Toyota pulled over to the side of the road with New Hampshire registration," he said. "They immediately observed syringes and other paraphernalia associated with drug activity."

Officers saw Short and Wilson inside, along with a 5-year-old girl in a car seat in the back of the vehicle, Thompson said. He declined to identify the girl's relationship with the adults, but he did confirm they were known to each other.

The Department of Children and Families was notified, and the child was taken into custody.

Thompson said it is not rare for children to be exposed to drug usage by relatives.

"Unfortunately, it's just part of the drug business," Thompson said. "If we're aware of such a situation, we act on it. But quite often, we're not aware of it until we're making an arrest."

Short and Wilson were each charged with possession of a Class A substance and reckless endangerment of a child. They pleaded not guilty Thursday in Haverhill District Court and were released on personal recognizance. The jude ordered them not to use drugs or alcohol.