4-year-old was playing on the floor with needles, drugs all around

A Laurel County couple was arrested after sheriff’s deputies found needles and drugs with a child playing nearby on the floor of their home.

Deputies were called to the home of Raymond Lewis Elam Jr., 29, and Stephanie Elam, 35, just before 8 p.m. Monday because of a domestic dispute, according to the Laurel County sheriff’s office.

Deputies found drug paraphernalia throughout the home, including “a baggie containing meth residue on the floor beneath one of the individuals, hypodermic needles on the floor and in a small garbage can, a hypodermic needle with a clear liquid substance in it on the floor of the closet, a can with methamphetamine residue on it, a spoon on the floor with a white substance on it, and pills,” according to a news release. “Deputies noted that a small 4-year-old child was playing in the floor near items deputies found with drugs on them along with the hypodermic needles nearby.”

Social services workers took the child from the home, which is on Pepperhill Drive about a mile west of London.

Both husband and wife were charged with first-degree criminal abuse of a child age 12 or younger, first-degree possession of a controlled substance — — methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and public intoxication from a controlled substance.

Stephanie Elam faces an additional charge of possession of marijuana.

Raymond Elam was wanted on a bench warrant for failure to appear in court on charges of driving under the influence.

Both were taken to the Laurel County jail.

This story was originally published November 21, 2017 at 6:57 PM with the headline "4-year-old was playing on the floor with needles, drugs all around."