Mother arrested after one year-old tests positive for cocaine

A Russellville woman has been arrested after her one year-old son tested positive for cocaine.

Sandra LaRae Hawkins, 35, of 715 Beech St., Russellville, is charged with chemical endangerment of a child, officials said.

Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett said Hawkins was arrested after officials with Franklin County Department of Human Resources turned over the child’s lab results to investigators.

Police said the child had ingested cocaine.

DHR officials reportedly made a required visit to Hawkins’ home last month. Following that visit, they decided to have the child tested for drugs.

“DHR officials contacted us, we got the results of the drug test and after talking with the district attorney’s office, arrest warrants were issued,” Russellville police Lt. Scotty Lowery said.

He said after Hawkins was taken into custody, she admitted during questioning that she had used cocaine while the child was in the house.

Lowery said detectives believe powder cocaine could have been spread on a table and the child touched the residue and then put his hands in his mouth.

Lowery said the child is in the custody of DHR and is being monitored by a local doctor for any side effects of the drug.

“We don’t think there will be any long term effects, but the child is being monitored,” Lowery said.

Hawkins is being held in Franklin County Jail on $5,000 bail.