RICHMOND —
Richmond police arrested two women Tuesday after officers said they found two children asleep in a Knights Inn motel room that was filled with smoke, spoons, syringes and other drugs paraphernalia.
Police responded after receiving a 2:56 p.m. report that young children were being exposed to illicit drug activity and dangerous drug paraphernalia, said Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock.
Officers were greeted at the door by a visitor to the room, Kathie L. Browning, 51, of Bratcher Lane in Berea, Brock said.
“In speaking with Browning, officers concluded that she was under the influence of an intoxicant and noted that the room was filled with smoke and had an odor that officers associated with possible drug use,” the chief said. “Officers further observed two small, male children, ages 4 and 9, asleep on a bed in the room.
Inside the room, police said they found several items of drug paraphernalia scattered about the room, including spoons, cotton balls, pill bottles, burnt marijuana cigarettes and numerous syringes and pills that were in close proximity to the sleeping children.
The room’s renter, Sarah L. Ritenour, a.k.a. Sarah Hogue, 24, was located in the bathroom and also under the influence, according to the police report.
“It later was determined that the children had been brought to the room by Browning, who was a relative of the children but not their guardian,” Brock said.
Both women were taken into custody. Police searched Ritenour’s body, finding a syringe, a cut straw, five oxycodone (Percocet) pills and a bag containing an unidentified white powder, Brock reported.
Social services representatives were summoned to the scene, and they transferred custody of the children to another relative.
Both women face charges of first-degree wanton endangerment. Ritenour faces the additional charges of first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Browning remained in the Madison County Detention Center on Thursday under a $5,000, unsecured, third-party bond. Ritenour was released Wednesday on an amended bond of $2,500, unsecured, third-party bond.
Police search for suspect
in home invasion/robbery
Richmond police are looking for a female suspect after a resident of North Poplar Street reported she came into his home Wednesday, taking $340 in cash.
She is described as being approximately 5-feet, 10-inches tall, weighing 200 pounds, with sandy or dirty blonde hair, wearing a gray top and jeans. She fled in a dark gray or black Nissan four-door sedan, possibly a 1990s or early 2000 model.
The vehicle was driven by a white female with curly blonde hair who was wearing a pink hoodie, according to police.
The resident, who is affiliated with the Light of Christ Ministries, told police be saw the woman approaching his door and, assuming she was dropping off a donation to the church, motioned her to come inside, Brock said.
“The female entered the apartment and the victim met her near a kitchen counter where the cash was located in plain view,” he said. “Suddenly, the woman pushed the victim down, grabbed the money and fled to an awaiting vehicle that immediately departed the scene.”
Other crime:
• A resident in the 200 block of Keystone Drive reported Sunday his apartment had been broken into during the past two days and a number of items were stolen. Entry was gained by prying open the front door, according to police. The following items were reported missing: A Samsung 40-inch LCD television, model No. RFB-LN40D550, approximately 83 DVDs, approximately 20 PlayStation video games, an Indian art knife and a Highlander sword. The estimated loss $2,315.
• A complainant reported Monday a Stihl concrete saw had been stolen from the construction site on Berea Road near Captain D’s on Nov. 29. The estimated loss is $1,200.
• A resident of Wellington Court reported Tuesday his residence had been unlawfully entered during the day and two items were stolen. It is suspected that entry was gained through a side window, police say. The following items were reported missing: a Specht 1866 muzzle-loading rifle, approximately 54-inches in length, with a flint lock ignition system, blue octagonal double barrels and a wood grained stock and a blue, 17-inch Acer laptop computer. The estimated loss is $3,000.
Anyone with information about these cases is asked to call the Richmond Police Department at 623-1162.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com at 624-6608.
Local News
Related Photos
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Browning
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Hogue
Children found among syringes, pills and other drugs
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