An Adel woman was arrested Monday afternoon at a West Des Moines grocery store for child endangerment and opioid possession.
Heather Marie Harding, 31, of 33019 K Ave., Adel, was charged with child endangerment and first-offense possession of a controlled substance.
The incident began about 1:15 p.m. Monday in the 1700 block of Jordan Creek Parkway, where officers of the West Des Moines Police Department allegedly found Harding with “13 hypodermic needles in her possession and not being under the medical care of a physician and in need of medication utilizing said syringes,” according to court records.
Law enforcement also found “four tied baggie corners, containing a gray substance approximately 1.7 grams total gross package weight that field tested positive for the presence of heroin/fentanyl,” according to court records.
Harding allegedly “did admit to using the syringes for injecting unprescribed opioids,” according to court records.
According to court records, Harding did “knowingly act in a manner that creates a substantial risk to” the “physical, mental or emotional health or safety” of the 4-year-old child in her custody.
Harding is held in the Dallas County Jail on a $3,000 cash or surety bond. She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Nov. 4 in Dallas County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
