Las Cruces couple arrested after boy tests positive for meth, police say

Las Cruces Police arrested a couple after the woman’s 7-year-old son allegedly tested positive for methamphetamine.

32-year-old Melanie A. Merlot and 37-year-old Skip H. Valenzuela, both of 2775 Roadrunner Parkway, are charged with one count each of Child Abuse, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Use or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Investigators learned from Child Protective Services Merlot’s 7-year-old son, who lives with his mother part-time, tested positive for methamphetamine on or about April 7.

The boy’s father voluntarily consented to a drug test on April 13 and those results were negative, police said. CPS indicated Merlot initially refused to submit to a drug test.

Investigators then executed a search warrant on the apartment shared by Merlot and Valenzuela, her live-in boyfriend.

Inside the apartment, investigators allegedly located narcotics and paraphernalia used to ingest methamphetamine and heroin.
Merlot and Valenzuela were both arrested Monday, May 8, 2017.