INDICTMENT HANDED DOWN FOR MOTHER OF BABY BORN ADDICTED TO COCAINE

FLORENCE, Ala. (AP) – Authorities say a woman has been indicted months after her daughter was born addicted to cocaine.

38-year-old Tosha Jean Ward was indicted on a charge of chemical endangerment of a child. Police detective Drew Harless says Ward was arrested on April 13 about a week after her daughter was born at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence.

The indictment says Ward knowingly, recklessly or intentionally caused her child to be exposed to a controlled substance.

Police say the baby is under the supervision of the Lauderdale County Department of Human Resources.

Ward is out on bail of $5,000.

Ward is scheduled to be arraigned on Dec. 16.