Baby's Parents Arrested After Marijuana Found In Home

A Congers man and woman are accused of misdemeanor child endangerment charges after a drug investigation by Clarkstown police that began with concerns for the welfare of an 11-month-old child.

Police said Kareem Hamza, 27, and Melissa Hamza, 25, of 40 Old Lake Road, Congers, were arrested Monday as the result of an investigation that began over the weekend.

On May 23, police said they received a complaint about an intense odor of marijuana coming from the Hamza home in the Northgate townhouses and that there was a young child in the home. Clarkstown officers went to the home to check on the welfare of the baby, but were refused entry by Kareem Hamza, police said.

A short time later, police said Melissa Hamza allowed the officers to enter and the child was found to be sleeping and apparently in good health. However, police said officers did notice a very strong odor of marijuana, although there were no illegal drugs visible in the home.

The Clarkstown Police Anti-Crime unit obtained a search warrant and went back to the home on Monday. As a result of marijuana found in the home, Kareem Hamza was charged with criminal possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor, criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, and acting in a manor to injure a child under 7 years-old, a misdemeanor. Melissa Hamza was also charged with acting in a manner to injure a child under 7 years-old.

They were both arraigned by Judge Rolf Thorsen in Clarkstown Town Court in New City and Kareem Hamza posted $1,000 bail and Melissa Hamza posted $500 bail. They are both to appear in Town Court on June 21. Police said the county's Child Protective Agency was notified to investigate this incident.