Santa Cruz Woman's Children Taken Away After Drug Charge

SANTA CRUZ (BCN) -- A Santa Cruz County woman temporarily lost her young children to Child Protective Services after she was arrested on drug charges Thursday morning.

Deputies near the community of Felton saw a woman park in a driveway at 138 Empire Road and quickly walk into a house, leaving her one-and-a-half-year-old and 4-year-old toddlers alone in the car, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.

The woman, later identified as 27-year-old Heather Stewart, was pulled over for having expired registration and determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance, according to the sheriff's office.

She was arrested for drug influence and child endangerment and booked at Santa Cruz County Jail.

Her children were placed with a family member with the assistance of Child Protective Services.

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