RECENT LOCAL DRUG ARRESTS SHOW TRAUMATIC EFFECTS ON CHILDREN

Ardmore Police Department officials say the drug arrests in recent weeks
clearly shows the negative impact narcotics have on children and what
officers are doing to protect these innocent victims.

Capt. Leroy Johnson, APD Criminal Investigation Division, said the arrest
of three people early Wednesday by APD Fourth Shift officers also resulted
in two small children being placed in protective custody.

"That's makes 16 children placed in protective custody in recent weeks,"
Johnson said. "These children are innocent victims of what their parents or
other relatives or caretakers are doing. And it's very traumatic for these
children."

Johnson said both children removed from their parents custody early
Wednesday due to drug possession were under 5 years old. The two children,
along with the 14 others placed into protective custody recently,
ultimately end up in the custody of the Department of Human Services Child
Welfare Division.

"DHS takes over the investigation from the initial point on. We forward our
reports and information concerning the children to the district attorney's
office. DHS also presents reports. Our officers then may be called to
testify in court concerning the circumstances the children were found in."

Wednesday officers found the two pre-schoolers in a car with four adults.
The driver was stopped about 1:20 a.m. when Officer Chad Anthony observed
the children were not properly restrained.

Once the traffic stop was made, Anthony discovered the driver, identified
as Allen Brantley was driving under suspension. There was an outstanding
warrant calling for Brantley's arrest. He then admitted he was in
possession of methamphetamine. Brantley was detained and later booked into
the county jail on the charges.

During the stop, Mark Blankenship, a passenger who had been holding one of
the children, confessed he was in possession of methamphetamine. He was
arrested at the scene. During book in procedures at the county jail
Blankenship was found to be in possession of additional amounts of
methamphetamine. Book in charges include distribution of methamphetamine,
possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, child endangerment
and possession of methamphetamine in a county jail.

Faith Blankenship, who was also holding a child, was initially detained for
public intoxication (drugs.) Subsequently the mother, who told officers she
is pregnant, was booked into the Carter County on charges of child
endangerment, possession of drug paraphernalia and public intoxication.

Another woman, found riding in the vehicle at the time it was stopped, was
later released.

Johnson said children present during the making, selling and using of drugs
is not an unusual circumstance, but it is a tragic one.

"Children are being dragged around, even in the middle of the night.
They're being exposed to the drug culture and they're seeing it first hand.
It's frustrating because many of them are very young. They don't have a
choice."

During the investigation officers found what Johnson said was common in
drug investigations involving children -- narcotics concealed within easy
access to children.

"There was a diaper bag, In one of the pockets, in close proximity to a
baby bottle was a meth pipe with residue still in it," Johnson said. "This
kind of behavior means that some time down the line cases like this one
have the potential become even more tragic. It could cost a child his or
her life if they ingest something they find lying around or hidden in and
among their possessions."