Boy in tears as he hands police Ziploc bag of meth found under mom’s nightstand
Emily Brown
Featured Image Credit: 8NewsNow KLAS
A nine-year-old boy was seen in tears on bodycam footage filmed as he handed police a Ziploc bag of methamphetamine he'd found in his mom's bedroom.
The young boy didn't hesitate to hand over the bag when he and his mom opened their front door to officers from the Henderson Police Department in Vegas.
Footage released by the department shows police thanking the young boy as they collected the Ziplock bag, which was approximately half full of a white substance.
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Police were called to the scene to check on the boy by his father, who doesn't live at the home. The boy had called his dad while locked in the bathroom after finding the Ziplock bag hidden under his mom's nightstand.
Footage shows one officer attempting to calm the young boy as he sobbed on camera before explaining that he found 'drugs' in his mom's room.
“I just saw a couple of bags, I was curious, pulled it out, and then that’s when I knew what it was,” he told police.
Meanwhile, another officer confronted mom Kendra Long, who claimed she had no idea how the bag got into her home and indicated she didn't know what meth was.
Following the discovery of the drugs, which took place in July 2022, police determined there were more than 100 grams of methamphetamine in the bag.
Speaking to 8 News Now Investigators, the boy's dad, Anthony Cruz, said his son had been 'breathing hard' when he called him, adding: "He was very nervous. He was scared."
Investigators also uncovered text messages which indicated Long had been dealing drugs at home while her son was around.
Long was arrested for drug trafficking and child abuse, and posted a bond of $25,000 on the same day.
In January 2023, prosecutors accused Long of violating her bail conditions, prompting Henderson Justice Court Judge Sam Bateman to remind her to comply with a family court order.
The following April, Long pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, as well as a gross misdemeanor charge of child abuse, neglect, and endangerment.
The mom was sentenced to 24 months of probation through a suspended sentence, meaning she could be sent to prison if she violated probation.
In October, Long was accused of committing additional crimes after a probation officer discovered nine baggies of drugs containing 7.6 grams of cocaine and 2.2 grams of methamphetamine.
Long was arrested again and had her bail set at $500 with high-level electronic monitoring. She later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor drug charge and was sentenced to credit for time served.
The young boy is now living with his dad, who says he is 'really proud' of him.