Boardman woman arrested for child endangering and tampering with evidence

Staff report

BOARDMAN

A Boardman woman is facing charges of tampering with evidence, child endangering and obstructing official business after police discovered she had left her 5-year-old alone and then disposed of drugs while police came to her apartment to investigate.

Nikkilah West, 32, was arrested at her Shields Road residence about 2 a.m. Thursday, according to a police report.

Township police were dispatched to the apartment after an anonymous call came in about a young child being left home alone.

When West arrived home, after police had arrived, she gave them conflicting statements “in an effort to try to confuse police,” the report said.

Police then found a 5-year-old boy sleeping inside the apartment.

They also observed West pick up a plate that had a white powder substance on it and wash it down the kitchen sink, the report states.

West told police the substance was heroin belonging to her boyfriend. Officers were able to collect some of the substance off the floor for further investigation.

West then was arrested on two misdemeanor charges of child endangering and obstructing official business and one felony charge of tampering with evidence.

She was taken to the Mahoning County jail, and was set to appear in court Thursday night for an arraignment.

The child was released to the custody of a relative.