West Bank woman arrested after cocaine found in her 3-year-old son's system

Allen Powell II

The Times-Picayune

Heather Bubrig

A West Bank woman has been booked with child desertion and improperly supervising her 3-year-old son after authorities said the boy ingested cocaine when she went on a weekend drug binge.

Heather Bubrig, 28, of 2732 Ridgefield Road was booked Monday with child desertion, improper supervision of a minor and illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor. Bubrig remains at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in lieu of $9,500 bond.

Bubrig and her son went to the Siesta Motel at 5353 West Bank Expressway in Marrero on Friday, where she bought crack cocaine and spent several days smoking it, according to a Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office arrest report. The child somehow ingested some of the drug.

Deputies came to the room because Bubrig was wanted on a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. They noticed her son "reeked of a foul odor" and was filthy, according to the report.

The child was taken to Oschner Medical Center-West Bank, where doctors discovered he had eczema and had not had his medication for several days. During the examination, doctors also found cocaine in the child's system after a urine test, according to the report.

The child's condition and whereabouts were not available late Wednesday.

Bubrig, who has a previous conviction for unauthorized use of a movable, was on probation at the time of her arrest.

The motel is known as a hot spot for narcotics activity and prostitution, according to the arrest report.

Motel owner Nanu Patel, who acknowledged that there have been problems at his business, said that he is working to clean it up. He said that he's owned the motel for a short time, and that it is very difficult to monitor what people do once they rent a room.

Wednesday June 17, 2009, 8:35 PM

Updated June 28, 2009