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SPANISH FORK — A Brigham City woman was arrested Wednesday after police found “a relatively substantial” amount of methamphetamine inside a vehicle she had been driving with her two children inside, authorities said.
Danielle Della Simpson, 27, was arrested and booked into Utah County Jail on suspicion of driving under the influence, child endangerment, possession of methamphetamine, possessing drug paraphernalia that included used syringes and multiple outstanding warrants, according to Utah County Sgt. Spencer Cannon.
Cannon said a Utah County sergeant's deputy spotted Simpson inside her vehicle at about 8:20 a.m. outside of the Dug Out convenience store at 866 S. Main St. About 15 minutes later, that deputy came across the woman still inside the vehicle in the parking lot.
The deputy decided to check on Simpson and found two girls, ages 4 and 5, sleeping inside the vehicle, which Cannon described was in poor condition. Simpson told the deputy that she was waiting for a friend and thought she was in Cedar City or Draper. She was exhibiting behaviors similar to drug use, Cannon said.
“She told the deputy that she was actually on her way to Denver to take the girls to their father’s parents,” he said.
The deputy decided to run a background check on Simpson and the vehicle and discovered that she had two outstanding warrants and that the vehicle’s registration, which was out of California, had expired two years ago.
“He started seeing indications that there might be something going on here related to drug involvement,” Cannon said. “He noticed the two small children in the car and that’s when he checked her name and found out she had the two warrants for her arrest.”
The deputy also administered a field sobriety test before arresting her on suspicion of driving under the influence. Cannon said deputies also found “a relatively substantial” amount of methamphetamine, old syringes and other drug paraphernalia.
Cannon said the drugs were easily accessible to Simpson’s daughters.
“We don’t believe (the children) had come in direct contact with them, but it was within their reach and their ability to handle them,” he added.
Simpson had outstanding warrants for retail theft in Box Elder County, including one third-degree felony count.
The Division of Child and Family Services took custody of the children until Simpson’s parents drove down from Brigham City to take them. Cannon said Simpson’s bail was set at $6,600 for all counts.
