TORRINGTON – A local woman, Brittney Ann Rost also known as Brittney Ann Dalton (30), is behind bars at the Goshen County Detention Center after Torrington Police Department (TPD) received a report of a child being left alone in a hotel room at the America’s Best Value Inn. 

According to an affidavit of probable cause filed in the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court for Goshen County, peace officer Andrea Sippel of the TPD responded to the hotel on August 12 at approximately 1:59 p.m. for a report of a child being left alone in a hotel room and the mother was nowhere to be found on the premise. 

“Upon Your Affiant’s (Sippel) arrival, the hotel receptionist and reporting party provided a copy of a driver license for the person renting the hotel room, identified as Brittney Dalton,” the affidavit explained. 

Sipple was advised by the hotel staff Dalton was not in the room and the door had been left slightly ajar and a small child was observed sleeping in a pack-and-play. Another child was observed in the room after Sippel entered and identified herself. 

“While Your Affiant was in the room with the child, she observed a small glass teardrop-shaped pipe with black residue laying in plain view on the bed next to a lighter,” the affidavit said.

Records indicate Sippel contacted the hotel manager who reportedly found the sleeping child inside the room alone after noticing the door ajar during routine room servicing. The manager also advised Sippel, Dalton had been seen leaving the hotel property at approximately 1:50 p.m. without her children. 

“At 1429 (2:29 p.m.) hours, Ms. Dalton returned to the room with a bag of groceries,” the affidavit said. 

Before a search was conducted, Sippel asked Dalton about any other illegal items in her room while advising her a pipe had been seen next to the bed.

“…Ms. Dalton advised there would be marijuana and ‘probably’ something else. Ms. Dalton advised she did not know what else would be in the room as she did have a roommate,” the probable cause affidavit said. “Further, Your Affiant confirmed with the hotel that the room is booked to Ms. Brittney Dalton only.”

The affidavit further indicates a search warrant was executed and evidence, a black container with suspected methamphetamine and a glass pipe was collected. 

Records indicate Dalton faces one count of abandonment of a child, first offense, one count of child endangerment, children where meth was stored, ingested, or possessed and one count of possession of a controlled substance, powder or crystal, three grams or less. A hearing was set for Monday, August 19 where the case was bound over to district court. The district court hearing date will be November 21.

Dalton also faces additional charges in Scotts Bluff County for one count of willful reckless driving, one count of possession of marijuana (one ounce or less) and one count of possession or use of drug paraphernalia.