Cedar Rapids daycare provider charged after kids test positive for cocaine

A Cedar Rapids in-home daycare provider has been charged with child endangerment after two of her young children tested positive for cocaine, authorities said.

LaShaunda D. Nelson, 27, of 1031 Fifth Ave. SE, was initially arrested Nov. 23, 2009 after officers executed a narcotics search warrant at her residence and found crack cocaine and prescription pills, according to a police report.

Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said three of Nelson's children were also at the residence, ages 3, 5 and 8. Hair samples were taken from two of the children, and tests later confirmed that they had been exposed to crack cocaine, Hamblin said. The hair of the other child was too short to get a sample, Hamblin said.

Hamblin said the drug was detected in the roots of the hair, indicating exposure, but was not given to the children. She said the children did not show any visible symptoms.

“With alcohol, the sooner they are exposed, the higher the addiction level,” Hamblin said. “It's the same with other illegal drugs.”

Case workers with the Department of Human Services removed Nelson's children and placed them in foster care, police said. Hamblin did not know their current whereabouts.

Police said Nelson provided daycare for four other children, but none of those children were present when officers went to the house. Hamblin said she didn't know if investigators or DHS would be trying to follow up with them.

Nelson was charged with a controlled substance violation and unlawful possession of prescription drugs after the initial search warrant. She was in jail until she made bond on Dec. 21. She was arrested again April 20 while she was working at McDonald's, 1530 First Ave. NE, when the tests came back positive, Hamblin said.

“It's just wrong,” Hamblin said. “There's no way around it. It's just wrong.”

Nelson was released from the Linn County Jail on Thursday on her own recognizance. A court hearing on the child endangerment charge is set for May 12.