St. George parents arrested after toddler found alone outside

ST. GEORGE, Utah (ABC4) — Two parents in St. George were taken into custody on Wednesday after their 2-year-old son was found outside of the home unattended.

Police say they received a call just after 11 a.m. on April 9, from a concerned neighbor who reported the child was outside by himself. The caller told police this was an “ongoing issue” and the parents are “usually drunk” inside the home.

When police arrived at the home in the area of 1000 South and 400 East, they reportedly found the door open and the suspects, James Elroy Nielsen, 27, and Adrianna Hope Hammon, 26, asleep inside.

According to court documents, both Nielsen and Hammon “exhibited signs and symptoms commonly associated with drug impairment” when speaking with officers.

While in the home, officers reported finding a 6-year-old child in the home as well as several drug paraphernalia that were allegedly within reach of the children. When officers asked the parents about drug use, Nielsen allegedly admitted to having a THC pen in his room as well as several guns.

After conducting a search of the home, police allegedly found a large quantity of cocaine, THC e-cigarettes, several pills, items used in drug distribution, other drug paraphernalia, five firearms, and a crossbow. Both Nielsen and Hammon were then taken into custody and booked into the Washington County Jail.

The two face two felony counts of endangerment of a child, as well as two counts of felony drug possession with the intent to distribute.

Nielsen also faces five felony charges of possession of a firearm by a restricted person and three misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance. Meanwhile, Hammon faces two misdemeanor charges of unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon, four misdemeanor charges for possession of a controlled substance, and one misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Court records show both have been ordered to be held without bail, pending a pretrial hearing.