By: Brian Wells | Roseville-Eastpointe Eastsider | Published July 25, 2022
ROSEVILLE — A child is reported to be in stable condition after allegedly ingesting her mother’s heroin.
At approximately 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 23, a Michigan State Police trooper patrolling in the area of Little Mack Avenue and Masonic Boulevard was flagged down by a frantic motorist who stated that her baby was not breathing, according to a post on the MSP Metro Detroit’s Twitter.
When the trooper approached, the driver, a 31-year-old Roseville woman, handed the trooper her 18-month-old daughter. The trooper called for assistance and began performing a sternum rub on the child, the post states.
The baby began slowly breathing as EMS arrived on the scene and began to work on her.
After an investigation, it was revealed that the child had ingested heroin and was administered a dose of Narcan, the Michigan State Police Twitter post states. The child reportedly then began breathing and was rushed to a hospital.
Officers reportedly found 15 doses of powdered heroin inside red and black capsules inside the vehicle, in the possession of the woman, which she allegedly tried to hide during the investigation, according to the post.
The woman and another 3-year-old child who was also in the vehicle were transported to the hospital as well, the post states.
In an update the morning of July 25, the 18-month-old child was reported to be in stable condition. The mother had been transported to the Macomb County Jail, but began complaining about medical issues and was returned to the hospital for treatment, MSP Second District Public Information Officer Mike Shaw said in a text.
The investigation is ongoing and is expected to be sent to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office later this week. In a press release sent by Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido shortly after noon on July 25, he stated that his office had not yet received a warrant request regarding the incident.
“We must review the facts before talking about any charges,” Lucido stated in the release. “This is a tragedy that could have been avoided. The Michigan State Trooper is a hero in my book and likely saved this child’s life.”
The Macomb County Board of Commissioners approved a budget amendment this year to accept grant funds to participate in Families Against Narcotics’ drug redirect programs, a first-of-its-kind partnership, according to the press release.
The goal of the partnership is to reduce drug-related crimes and overdose deaths by offering people who may have committed a minor, nonviolent, drug-related or drug-induced offense a referral to treatment and a continuum of care instead of arresting and prosecuting them.
“The recent Roseville case may end up being too egregious for any diversion or redirect, but if we hope to change the cycle of drugs and crime, then we in law enforcement cannot continue to do the same thing in every drug case,” Lucido said in the press release. “Prevention and redirect are important tools in the law enforcement toolbox for appropriate nonviolent cases.”
The prosecutor’s Child Protection Unit will review police reports regarding the incident once they are received, the press release states.
Contact Staff Writer Brian Wells at (248) 291-7637 or bwells@candgnews.com.