Woman charged after baby takes drugs found on drug dealer's floor

AVONDALE, Ariz. (FOX 10) -- Court documents show an Avondale woman has been charged with child abuse and drug-related offenses, after her infant son took drugs found on the floor of a drug dealer's apartment.

According to the documents, five charges have been filed against 40-year-old Michelle Leah Mendoza, who was arrested on the night of January 29, on the 7800 block of W. McDowell Road in Phoenix. On that same night, officers responded to a call of an 11-month-old who had overdosed. When officers arrived at the scene, Mendoza said her son had possibly ingested a Percocet pill off the apartment floor. The infant was given Narcan by paramedics at the scene, and was later taken to Phoenix Children's Hospital, where he was given Narcan a second time.

Documents say Mendoza first claimed the apartment belonged to a friend, and she was simply there for a visit. However, Mendoza later claimed she knew the apartment's owners were dealing drugs out of the apartment, but claimed she was not there to buy drugs. During a police interview that happened after her arrest, Mendoza said she believes her son may have taken the drug from the floor, under the kitchen table, and that she picked up her son from under the kitchen table and he became limp.