ROCKLAND — The discovery last week of a toddler lying in a drainage ditch, near a culvert, with no one around, led to the first of two arrests of the boy’s mother after police first located her on a mattress in the living room, asleep and allegedly under the influence of drugs.

Mandy Dennison, 27, was arrested April 23 and charged with endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.

That Saturday evening, around 6:18 p.m., Rockland Officer Andrew Redden responded to a citizen’s call on Rankin Street, where they had found the 3-year-old boy. The toddler was unable to tell or lead Redden to where he lived, only that he had been watching Scooby Doo at his home, according to police in a news release April 27.

According to the release, Redden noted that the boy had pink nail polish on several areas of his skin. The citizen reported that he had tried to find the child's mother, at two different apartment complexes, without luck; however, one nearby apartment's front door was wide open, and Scooby Doo was playing on the TV inside.

When Redden arrived at the apartment, he saw pink nail polish on the entryway floor.

Unable to get anyone to respond to his knocking, Redden entered the apartment to check on the occupant's well-being. Inside, he found the boy's mother, Dennison, asleep on the mattress.

“After several attempts, Officer Redden was able to wake Dennison,” said the release. When she was finally awake, police said she didn't know where her son was. “Dennison appeared to be under the influence of drugs,” they said.

Dennison was found to be in possession of clonazepam, which they alleged is not prescribed to her.

Dennison was arrested, and transported to the Knox County Jail. The boy's grandmother came to the scene and picked him up.

The following evening, April 24, Officer Alex Gaylor conducted a bail check on Dennison, to verify she was in compliance with the conditions of her release from jail. During the visit, Dennison was found to be in possession of a different medication that, again, police she had no prescription for. Dennison was arrested again for one count of unlawful possession of scheduled drugs and violating conditions of release.

She currently remains in jail, awaiting arraignment, according to the release.

Reach Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com and 207-706-6655.