Pubdate: Fri, 10 Dec 2004 Source: Ocean County Observer (NJ) Copyright: 2004 Ocean County Observer Contact: http://www.injersey.com/observer/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1212 Author: Brenden Shur, Staff Writer Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise public figures or officials. COPS: COUNTY WORKER HAD CRACK PIPE LAKEHURST -- A county employee who allegedly left her children home alone and was found to be in possession of a crack pipe was arrested Wednesday on endangering and drug charges, police said. [delete], was being held in Ocean County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bail with no 10 percent option yesterday. She has been a senior clerk in the Ocean County Clerk's Office since 1999, said Keith Goetting, county human resources director. According to a police press release, authorities initially responded to [delete] residence after receiving a complaint that her two children, ages 8 and 11, were being left home alone on a regular basis, sometimes overnight. Police said they went to the home at about 7:30 p.m. and found the two children, who had been alone for several hours. Neither child had eaten since lunch and the house was in "complete disarray," police said. Police called the Division of Youth and Family Services and Investigators Colleen Lynch and Jason Steele of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Family Protection Unit, police said. While police were at the residence, [delete] returned home and then tried to flee in a car, police said. She was stopped less than a block from her home by Patrolman Edward Giglio, police said. While police were taking her into custody for endangering the welfare of a child, she was found to be in possession of a crack pipe, police said. That discovery, as well as other observations, led police to obtain a search warrant, after which they discovered drugs, suspected to be crack or heroin, and a handgun, police said. She was arrested on two counts of endangering, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and being under the influence of drugs, police said. Her bail initially was set at $50,000 but was reduced to $15,000 by Superior Court Judge James N. Citta. Getting said [delete] has been suspended without pay from her $24,297 annual salary pending the outcome of the charges. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin