Jacksonville, FL – A 28-year-old mother was arrested after her infant son was hospitalized after ingesting cocaine and fentanyl, authorities said. The mother, Cheyenne Pope, claimed the drugs accidentally fell out of her bag onto the baby’s play mat.
Arrest and Charges
Pope was taken into custody last week and charged with one count of neglect of a child resulting in great bodily harm, according to Duval County court records. She is being held at the Duval County Jail with a $50,000 bond and is scheduled for an arraignment on October 14.
Incident Details
According to a probable cause affidavit from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded at about 11:56 p.m. on September 19 to the University of Florida Health Hospital in the 600 block of West 8th Street after being notified by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). The notification involved an infant testing positive for narcotics.
Investigators reported that Pope admitted to being a drug user and claimed she had a personal supply of narcotics in a bag, which may have fallen onto the child’s play mat. The infant, who had been transported by ambulance, tested positive for both fentanyl and cocaine. Hospital staff confirmed the child was in stable condition, although his vital signs had not fully returned to normal.
Statements and Investigation
During her initial hospital interview, Pope stated that her son had been playing on his mat for about 20 minutes and she did not see him come into contact with any drugs. She claimed she initially thought the baby was dehydrated when he appeared lethargic around 3:30 p.m.
Authorities also spoke with two women at Pope’s residence. One woman said Pope admitted to using drugs that day, with the drugs being in a backpack. Pope’s sister also reportedly said that Pope admitted to using drugs for the past two months, including earlier on the day her son was hospitalized, according to the reports.
In a post-Miranda interview, Pope allegedly said she had given the baby multiple bottles and changed him into multiple diapers, all of which were stored in the same backpack as the drugs.
What precautions do you think parents and caregivers should take to prevent accidental exposure to drugs in the home? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
