Mendocino County arson investigation leads to drug arrests

<p>Five young children, including at least one infant, were turned over to Mendocino County Child Protective Services on Tuesday after sheriff's deputies found them in a Ukiah apartment with three adults suspected of being under the influence of drugs.</p><p>The children's parents were among the three suspects -- two men and a woman, authorities said.</p><p>Deputies with a search warrant went to the South State Street apartment at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday as part of an investigation into a handful of small arson fires around the apartment building, sheriff's Lt. Greg Van Patten said Wednesday.</p><p>When they got there, they found the children, age 6 months to 4 years, in the unit with adults, and about a gram of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, authorities said.</p><p>The three adults were arrested and booked into the Mendocino County Jail. They included William McNiel, 23, Jose Jesus Tapia Rodriguez, 25, and Tiffany Hobbs, 31, all of 2100 S. State St., the Sheriff's Office said.</p><p>The children were taken into protective custody, authorities said.</p>