Police arrested a Chesterton woman on a felony charge of neglect of a dependent and an assortment of drug charges after they said they found loose marijuana strewn about the residence and other drugs, a report said.

Tianna Cardona, 20, of the 2100 block of Hawthorne Lane, also is charged with misdemeanor counts of possession of paraphernalia, marijuana possession and possession of a controlled substance, according to a report from Chesterton police.

Police were called at 2:25 a.m. Monday to Cardona’s residence to assist the Department of Child Services for a welfare check on two small children possibly left home alone, the report said.

Cardona and a Hammond woman who was allegedly serving as a baby sitter and also is expected to face charges were at the residence, where officers could smell a strong odor of burnt marijuana, the report said.

Cardona, who had one of her children with her, told police her boyfriend possibly smoked marijuana at the residence earlier in the day, and the remnants of a marijuana cigarette and some loose marijuana next to it on the kitchen counter were his as well, the report said.

The report said police also found a clear bag with marijuana in it, and Cardona allegedly told police it belonged to her boyfriend.

Cardona allegedly told police that her boyfriend had become angry and thrown marijuana around the residence, covering her bedroom floor, according to the report.

Police said there were numerous areas in an upstairs foyer scattered with marijuana and that the bedroom floor was reportedly covered with the drug. A white garbage bag that had contained the marijuana was on the floor of the foyer, the report said.

“It appeared that someone had tried to sweep up the marijuana. The marijuana was scattered near their child’s playpen,” a report states, adding it was all over clothing worn by both children and adults in the household.

Cardona told police she had tried to vacuum up the marijuana but couldn’t because the vacuum broke, the report said.

On a closet shelf, police also found a large mason jar filled halfway with marijuana and a bag containing 54 alprazolam pills, which Cardona did not have a prescription for, the report said. Police also located two pipes, the report said, as well as marijuana in a makeup bag that Cardona allegedly said belonged to her.

A hallway as well as a second bedroom also were strewn with marijuana, and police also recovered a scale and more than 46 additional alprazolam pills, as well as a bag containing cocaine, according to a report.

Police transported Cardona to Porter County Jail after a relative came to pick up her child.

Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.