Three persons were arrested on drug possession and child endangerment charges Wednesday morning, Feb. 24 when police stumbled upon illegal activity in a room at the Howard Johnson Inn, 1672 Herndon Ave.

The incident unfolded at 10:05 a.m. when police were dispatched to the area with reports of a suspicious looking female on a bike carrying a laptop. Police arrived and found another suspicious man in the parking lot of the Howard Johnson. That man asked officers to arrest him, said Lt. Chris Perry, as he reported he had been in a room where "very bad things were happening."

Officers gained entry into the room after a woman, Nicole Neal, 32, of Empire, came to the door who may have been on the bike with the laptop. A man in the room began being argumentative with the officer, asking him to leave. But since Terry Valet Jr., 29, of Stockton, was on searchable probation, police investigated the room.

The officer found Terry Valet Sr., 45, of Stockton, hiding under the sheets of a bed where a five-year-old boy was asleep the whole time. On the bed where the child was sleeping was a plastic baggie containing methamphetamine, said Ceres Police Lt. Chris Perry. The room also contained evidence of marijuana use and burnt heroin paraphernalia.

Paramedics were called to check out the child. Child Protective Services were called to take care of the boy.

Nicole Neal, 32, of Empire, was arrested and charged with child endangerment and possession of narcotics.

Terry Valet Sr. and Terry Valet Jr., were both charged with possession of narcotics and child endangerment and probation violation. Valet Sr., was charged with miscellaneous warrants.

The first man encountered by police in the parking lot was released.