An Opp woman is behind bars after Opp Police found her sitting on the side of the road during a heavy thunderstorm with a 1-year-old child.

Opp Police Chief Mike McDonald said that at approximately 2:21 a.m., a C-shift officer was responding to a call, when he observed a female sitting on the side of East Stewart Avenue.

“The officer diverted from the original call, stopped and got out with the female who was identified as Lori B. Arendt, age 54 of Opp,” McDonald said. “The officer observed that Ms. Arendt was in possession of a child that appeared to be 1-year-of-age and that Ms. Arendt appeared to be under the influence of a drug.”

McDonald said that officers contacted the Department of Human Resources and the officers and a DHR worker were given permission to enter Arendt’s apartment.

Officers located two other people inside of the apartment as well as marijuana, a white powder that appeared to be cocaine, and drug paraphernalia.

Arendt was charged with chemical endangerment of a child, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana second degree and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Also arrested were Christopher M. Whiteside, 31, of Opp and Kaylen R. Bowdoin, 19, of Opp. They were charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana second degree and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both were remanded to the Covington County Jail.

McDonald said the child was transported to Mizell Memorial Hospital emergency room where it was cleaned up and treated for dehydration.

“The child was placed with a family by DHR,” McDonald said. “Ladies and gentlemen, our children are our most precious gifts. We are entrusted to care for and protect them. This is simply another example of how drug abuse causes people to violate this sacred trust. We must do better than this.”