RUSSELL — A foster parent was arrested Thursday in charges of possession of marijuana and endangering a child, Russell County Sheriff John Fletcher announced.
According to a statement released Friday, the arrest of Pam Pertl stemmed from a criminal investigation that began on June 5. Deputies from the RCSO were summoned to the third floor of the Russell County Courthouse. A social worker from the Hays office of the DCF called to request an officer and an ambulance, as they were there with St. Francis Community and Family Services doing a Kansas Department of Health and Environment investigation. Pertl, a foster mother, had allegedly tested positive for marijuana, as had three of the four girls.
One girl said the mother and the other girls drank bleach with milk in Bunker Hill.
Deputies applied for and obtained a search warrant for 105 8th St. in Bunker Hill and collected 11.65 grams of suspected marijuana, drug paraphernalia, cups with liquid for testing, and liquid bleach. All four foster children were removed from the house and place in other homes by St. Francis. Reports were filed with the Russell County Attorney’s Office.
At warrant was issued at 4:35 p.m. Thursday and Pertl was arrested at 6:40 p.m. for possession of marijuana, two counts of distribution of marijuana an three counts of aggravated endangering of a child. She was booked in the Russell County Jail with bond set at $40,000.