Ohio: 4yr old boy in car seat while mom and companion OD on heroin

Lucio R. for Borderland Beat by C.E.M.

"In attempts to publicize the effects of the Ohio heroin epidemic, the East Liverpool, Ohio police department  released these stunning photos.   

Over 3,000 Ohioans died from accidental drug overdoses in 2015, heroin is killing 8 Ohioans a day…"

A police officer was driving when he spotted the Ford Explorer SUV moving  erratically.  The SUV would cross the yellow divider line, then pull back again into the right edge of the roadway. 

The driver slammed on his brakes, skidding towards a school bus stopped while students exited, the

bus pulled away, and the SUV then drifted to the side of the road and stopped.

The officer then made contact with the driver, identified as James Acord.  The officer asked Acord what was going on.  He observed Accord’s head bobbing around, pinpoint pupils and almost unintelligible.  Accord pointed to an unconscious woman, identified as Rhonda Pasek, who was sitting in the passenger seat, explaining  he was taking her “to the hospital”.

The officer noticed a child in the back of the SUV, a four year old male, sitting in his car seat, looking confused. 

Then Acord slipped into unconsciousness.  By this time Pasek was blue and not breathing.  A Lifeteam EMS was called as the officer kept the airway opened on Pasek.  EMS administered several injections of Narcan saving her life. Narcan is an antidote used in opiate overdoses.

Guerrero: Mexico replaced Asia as the provider of heroin to the U.S.
when the product became high grade and white, knocking Asia out of the market

When they were removed from the car, the police officer reported that he found a folded piece of paper between Pasek’s legs that contained “a small amount of pink powdery substance,” which was then taken to a lab for testing.

The little boy was taken into protective custody and later released to the care of a neighbor.

Pasek and Acord have had previous run-ins with the law, in Ohio and neighboring West Virginia.

Pasek (her FB photo above left)was charged with child endangerment, not wearing a seatbelt and public intoxication. Acord was charged with endangering a child and slowing/stopping in a roadway.

Acord pleaded no contested to the charges and was sentenced to 360 days in jail. His license was also suspended for three years and he has to pay a $475 fine.

Pasek pleaded not guilty. 

Police report below.  Click on image to enlarge