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The suspect locked herself into her bathroom and a cloud of suspected drug smoke escaped out of her mouth when she was apprehended by Wegner.

The victim earlier became suspicious earlier about the woman when she approached him and his friend asking for $20. The two declined and hung around the Wilder Road home for a time in case the woman, who has not yet been arraigned, decided to come back. The man and woman eventually left. They returned about 9 p.m. and the rear door was broken out on the house. A piggy bank filled with about $150 in loose change and rolled coins was the only thing missing.

Wegner collected evidence left inside the burglarized home and she and reserve deputy Christina McCalla visited the suspect at her Hunters Creek Road residence. The accused gave permission for police to search her house, but once the deputies were inside the woman immediately wanted to use the bathroom. Wegner said okay, but first wanted to look inside the room to ensure the safety of officers. She observed what appeared to be a crack cocaine pipe on the counter top, but the woman claimed she didn't have any cocaine.

With other officers standing by, Wegner told the woman to sit on the couch while she retrieved her camera from the squad car. While Wegner was gone, the woman rushed into the bathroom and locked herself in. She came out a short time later.

"I came back in and cuffed her, and she dropped a lighter," Wegner said. "I asked her what she was doing and she blew a big puff of smoke out of her mouth and said, 'I smoked it.'"

Wegner asked the woman about her three children, 5, 8, and 11, and the woman claimed an uncle in Oxford had guardianship because of her drug habit. She later changed her story about custody and the relative would not speak with Wegner on the phone. A room inside the home appeared to have been used recently by children and there was no edible food in the refrigerator. Wegner called Child Protective Services out of concern for the children.

Evidence inside the home was collected. The report was forwarded to the Lapeer County Prosecutor's Office with request for warrants for breaking and entering, larceny inside a building and related drug charges.

Susan Younger may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8122, or susan.younger@lapeergroup.com