Child overdoses on controlled substance

ELWOOD, Ind. (Herald Bulletin) - Police are investigating after a two-year-old child overdosed on narcotics Sunday, 24-Hour News 8’s news partner the Herald Bulletin reports.

The child was taken to Elwood’s St. Vincent Mercy Hospital by the child’s grandmother, who is the legal guardian, Capt. Andy McGuire said.

McGuire said the woman became suspicious after the child fell asleep four hours earlier than normal. She had difficulty getting the child to wake up.

McGuire said it appears the child overdosed on suboxone, a prescription semi-synthetic opioid, however hospital tests are not positive. He says it is clear that the child swallowed some form of narcotic.

Tuesday night, the child was still at the Elwood hospital in stable condition, McGuire said. He also said there was no indication the child suffered any brain damage.

Police were informed during the investigation of the child’s home that suboxone pills were kept in an Altoids breath mint container and that some pills were missing. McGuire said it is possible the child mistook the pills as mint candy.

Officers were also told that Kirk Gaither, 25, of Alexandria, allegedly sold narcotics to the residence on a regular basis, McGuire said.

The Madison County Drug Task Force was able to conduct a controlled drug buy from Gaither Monday evening, Elwood Police Chief Sam Hanna said.

Gaither was arrested on suspicion of a Class B felony of attempting to deal a controlled substance.

McGuire obtained a subpoena to send urine samples from the child to the Indiana State Police lab to determine what the child overdosed on. An investigation is ongoing, and more arrests could follow, he said.