Hanford mom, child found sleeping in vehicle containing drugs

A Hanford woman was arrested Wednesday after officers found her sleeping with her child in a vehicle containing drugs and needles, Hanford police said.

Officers responded to the 600 block of North Irwin Street around 7:54 a.m. for a report of an abandoned vehicle with someone sleeping inside, Cpl. Dale Williams said. Samantha Lopez, 28, and her 2-year-old son were found in the vehicle.

Lopez claimed she had been sleeping there with her son for only one night, but officers found that her son was eating rotten food that was on a large pile of clothes on the floorboard, Williams said. Further investigation found drugs and dirty hypodermic needles throughout the vehicle.

Lopez was arrested for suspected possession of drugs, drug paraphernalia and child endangerment, Williams said. Her son was released to Kings County Child Protective Services.

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 7:13 PM with the headline "Hanford mom, child found sleeping in vehicle containing drugs."