(MOBILE, Ala.) - Two people are behind bars for having drugs around small children. Akelah Poole, 19, and Steven Thomas, 24, are both charged with possession of marijuana and two counts of chemically endangering a child.
Investigators say when they arrived to Poole's apartment on Old Shell Road, they found marijuana sitting out on a table and a 9-month-old and 3-year-old inside.
Poole's neighbor, who did not want to be identified, claims he saw Poole do drugs around her children.
"Where were they?" asked Local 15's Andrea Ramey.
"Sitting at the table with her," the neighbor replied.
"What did you think when you came in and saw these little kids and you saw the drugs there?" asked Ramey.
"What can I do? What can I do? Nothing I can do," the neighbor replied.
But according to the sheriff's office someone did do something about it. An anonymous tip left on the department's website led investigators to Poole's apartment. Spokesperson Lori Myles says the crime tips feature was added to the sheriff's office website earlier this year, and tips have been pouring in recently.
"Five today, then maybe yesterday I had three, when I would never receive a crime tip before. Before we starting pushing this I saw zero," said Myles.
It's simple to do. Just click on crime tips on the top of the page, and leave what information you know. You don't have to leave your name, if you don't want to be contacted.
"We just encourage the community to stay on board. And actively pay attention. We can't be every where. So we know you're watching your neighborhood," said Myles.
The sheriff's office does not offer reward money for most tips, but there is a $500 reward for turning in felons who have guns.
To leave a crime tip, click here:
http://www.mobileso.org/
