A Chesterton resident was arrested Thursday on charges of neglect of a dependent, possession of a controlled substance, maintaining a common nuisance, possession of paraphernalia, and taking a child into a common nuisance, Porter Police said.

According to police, at 5:51 p.m. Jonathan J. Hamilton, 26, of 216 S. Seventh St., with two children in his vehicle, was stopped by the PPD station at 50 Francis St. after an officer saw him weave and hit a curb. When instructed to exit the vehicle, police said, Hamilton reached over into the passenger’s seat and began pushing his hand under his coat. In a subsequent check of the passenger’s seat for “potential hazards or weapons,” police said, an officer found a glass smoking device with burnt residue in it as well as some clear plastic baggies containing a white powdery substances and several capped syringes.

A complete search of the vehicle produced a total of 28 empty baggies containing a residual white powdery substance; 11 baggies containing 4.9 grams of a white powdery substance which field-tested positive for the presence of heroin; and six syringes, police said.

Police added that one of the capped syringes was located in the compartment area where Hamilton’s two child passengers were seated.

The two children were released to the care of a relative, police said.

Hamilton was transported to Porter County Jail.

Neglect of a dependent, possession of a controlled substance, and maintaining a common nuisance are all Class D felonies, punishable by a term of six months to three years; possession of paraphernalia and taking a child into a common nuisance are Class A misdemeanors, punishable by up to year in jail.

Posted 11/9/2009