The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office says a woman wanted after her 10-month-old child tested positive for meth exposure has been found and arrested.
Deputies found 24-year-old Crystal Parker in a condemned home Wednesday morning after she failed to pay a taxi driver, who contacted authorities.
YCSO had been looking for Parker since March 3 when she evaded capture by escaping through a backdoor at the home.
The infant's father, 24-year-old Tyler Vargas, was arrested on March 3 on charges related to the child's meth exposure.
Deputies were initially called to the couple's home in February, according to police, regarding a domestic fight. Once there, officers found the home had no running water and had evidence of drug use, including syringes and marijuana pipes.
The Department of Child Safety was called and removed the child from the home.
Officials said the child tested positive for meth exposure and "was miserable and going through withdrawals," according to police.
On Wednesday morning, officers arrived and found Parker and others inside the home they were not supposed to be. Officers also found drugs in their possession.
Police said Parker allegedly gave deputies a fake name, date of birth and social security number to try to avoid arrest. She was booked for child abuse, trespassing, burglary, criminal damage, theft of service and criminal impersonation.
Vargas told detectives that the couple had done meth several times in their home, but said he didn’t know how the child was exposed because they always used needles. He was booked on one count of child abuse and is being held on $10,000 bond.
Deputies noted that the home's APS Smart meter had been removed and that pieces of silverware had been inserted between the terminals to maintain the connection.
