A couple from Ohio was charged after they were found to have overdosed in separate cases. The father was found unconscious in his vehicle with a baby left unattended while the mother also passed out while four other children were under her care.
They were arrested earlier this week and were identified as 29-year-old Nathan Carroll and 24-year-old Samantha Schigel. A baby was in the backseat of the car driven by Carroll while four kids were under the care of Schigel at their home, which was just across the street where her husband was found. They were both charged with child endangerment, New York Post reported.
Aside from the child endangerment charge, Carroll was also charged with driving his car off the road under the influence. He was also charged with driving with a revoked or suspended license and operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Officers were called after a man drove onto the curb then passed out. When they arrived, Carroll was still unconscious and they had to use two doses of the heroin antidote called Naxolone. He was taken to a local hospital.
A bystander also informed police when he went to the home of the couple that a young child answered the door and told him they could not wake their mother up. She was also given Naxolone and was taken to a hospital. After that, they were both taken to Lorain City Jail, ABC News reported.
The couple is currently released on bail but the children were placed under the care of relatives. No information is available yet regarding the court appearance of the couple.
Ohio police officials expanded their pilot program of bringing Naloxone with them because of the rising number of overdose cases. More police will bring antidotes with them as the first six months of the project was successful since all of the people who received shots were able to survive. Only one person who received a shot died.
