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Police: Child found in car with parents passed out

Search turns up suspected drugs

A husband and wife were arrested Monday after allegedly shooting up heroin. A Butler police officer found them slumped over in the front seats of a Volkswagen.

Charles R. Hoffman, 35, of Slippery Rock had a tourniquet tied to the steering wheel and to his left arm, according to court documents. In his hand was a syringe with suspected heroin.

Next to Jennifer M. Hoffman, 35, of Butler Township was a metal spoon. On the floor beside her foot was a used syringe.

But what shocked Patrolman Jeremy Walters was what he saw in the back seat — the Hoffmans’ 2-year-old daughter.

Both suspects are in the Butler County Prison, charged with child endangerment, possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, and public intoxication.

Police initially encountered the couple about 11:20 a.m. in the 500 block of North McKean Street where they were called for a report of suspected drug activity.

The Hoffmans were both passed out in a red car parked on the side of the street. It was apparent, police said, that the two had recently used heroin.

However, their young daughter was awake in the rear seat.

Officers had to rouse the suspects, who immediately appeared “very disoriented” and spoke “with a slurred speech,” documents said.

Each had multiple needle marks on their arms, some of which, police said, appeared fresh.

Police took both into custody. A search of their car later turned up 53 empty stamp bags of suspected heroin, 15 used syringes and other contraband.

The county Children and Youth Services agency was called and took custody of their daughter.

The infant and the Hoffmans’ older daughter, who attends middle school, were later both placed in the custody of a family member, police said.

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