Police arrest Ohio mom after 7-year-old son arrives at school high on cocaine

16 mins

A 7-year-old Ohio child was taken to the hospital after he passed out at his desk and his teacher couldn't wake him. He tested positive for cocaine at the hospital. (Image source: Video screenshot) 

Jana J. PruetSR. STAFF WRITER

Police arrested an Ohio mother after her 7-year-old son showed up to his elementary school high on cocaine earlier this week, WDTN-TV reported.

What’s the story?

The boy’s teacher found him passed out at his desk and couldn’t wake him. He finally stumbled to the cafeteria where he passed out again.

“The student was drowsy, groggy, and they thought there might be a blood sugar question,” Urbana Superintendent Charles Thiel told WDTN.

The Urbana North Elementary school nurse called 911 and paramedics transported him to Urbana Mercy Health Hospital where he tested positive for cocaine.

The child was shaking, had dilated pupils, and a low heart rate, officials said.

What did the mom do?

The mother eventually arrived at the hospital and appeared to be under the influence of drugs. The mother’s name has been withheld to protect the boy’s identity.

She was “shaking, had slurred speech, and could not stand still,” according to Urbana police.

The 29-year-old mother told authorities that her son had been at his grandmother’s house that morning where the grandmother and her friends were cooking crack cocaine.

Police believe the child accidentally inhaled the drug before leaving for school.

“It’s a terrible situation for one of our youngest students to have to be in an environment in which the ingestion of an illegal substance occurs,” Thiel said.

The mother, who admitted to using heroin and cocaine just hours earlier, agreed to a urine test, which showed she had cocaine, methamphetamines, fentanyl, and opiates in her system, according to police reports.

“That’s what makes it really heartwrenching as a school person knowing that you’re just keeping your fingers crossed some nights when you send those children back out into the world,” Thiel said.

What else?

The boy, who was treated and released from the hospital, was placed into the care of Child Protective Services. It’s not clear whether he has returned to school.

The mother, charged with multiple drug felonies, is being held on $5,000 bond in Tri-County Jail.