Full Notification

Child Found in the Road Leads to Felony Arrest, Copperopolis, CA
 
On June 30, 2024, at about 8:35 PM, deputies were dispatched to the intersection near Little John Road and Copper Cove Drive, Copperopolis, regarding a citizen reporting a toddler walking in the roadway.
            When deputies arrived, they contacted witnesses who stated they observed a female, later identified as Ashley Marie Agasi, 33 of age, Copperopolis, carrying a child as she walked on Quiver St. near Littlejohn Road. They observed that the female was acting erratically, yelling at neighbors' dogs, throwing rocks at animals, and attempting to wave down vehicles.
Suspect Agasi set the one-year-old on the hot pavement wearing only one shoe and to confront a vehicle that had stopped near her location. A bystander was concerned for the young child's safety as she was unattended near the roadway and standing on the extremely hot asphalt. The bystander picked the child up to ensure she was not harmed. After the confrontation with the vehicle, Agasi left the area and did not return for the child.
Deputies responded to suspect Agasi’s residence to conduct an interview and ascertain if any other children were in her care. Upon contact, suspect Agasi failed to follow commands and was uncooperative with the deputies. Despite her efforts to push the deputies away and attempts to walk away, deputies were able to place her in handcuffs. The deputies noted that Agasi was displaying common symptoms indicative of being under the influence of methamphetamine. 
The deputies conducted a protective sweep of Agas’s house to ensure no other children were in her care. While doing so, they noted multiple child safety concerns.  Deputies observed soiled baby diapers on the floor in the master bedroom, piles of canine fecal matter on the ground inside the living room, trash and moldy fruit on the floor, multiple shattered windows around the residence with large shards of exposed glass, and copious amounts of dirty laundry throughout the entire house. Due to the deplorable and dangerous condition of the residence and suspect Agasi's inability to care for herself or others due to being under the influence of methamphetamine, Child Protective Services staff were requested to respond to assist with the investigation and take custody of the child. 
Agasi was transported to an area hospital by ambulance due to her displaying symptoms of being highly under the influence of a controlled substance. Upon release from the hospital, deputies placed her under arrest and transported her to the jail for booking. She was booked on charges of felony child endangerment, being under the influence of a controlled substance (misdemeanor) and resisting peace officers in the performance of their duties (misdemeanor).