PENNSYLVANIA — A Duquesne man is facing multiple charges after police said an 11-year-old boy was hospitalized after ingesting narcotics.
According to a criminal complaint, the Allegheny County Police Department was contacted by UPMC Children’s Hospital regarding a juvenile patient who tested positive for a cocaine metabolite. Hospital officials said the child was brought in on Dec. 18 after he passed out at school.
A hospital social worker told police the boy’s parents drove him to the hospital, signed consent forms for treatment, and then left shortly afterward. Investigators said detectives later identified the individuals involved and executed a search warrant at a home in the 900 block of Wool Avenue in Duquesne.
Police said one of the boy’s parents, identified as I’edoniae Cole, 32, told detectives the child woke up that morning “feeling off.” Cole said the child was given Tylenol and sent to school, where he reportedly passed out about five minutes after arriving.
During a search of the home, police said they recovered a large amount of narcotics, including heroin/fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana, along with drug paraphernalia. Three handguns were also found, one of which had previously been reported stolen. Investigators said the drugs and firearms were accessible to multiple juveniles living in the home.
Cole is charged with aggravated assault, possession with intent to deliver, endangering the welfare of children, receiving stolen property, and related offenses.
