Baby Found High on Pot
Boy was exposed to marijuana on his 1st birthday
By JESSICA GREENE
Updated 3:22 PM PST, Wed, Oct 21, 2009
A 1-year-old boy whose mom noticed he was lethargic and unresponsive on his birthday earlier this month was high on marijuana, doctors determined. Now the man who was taking care of him at the time is behind bars.
Vacaville police arrested Jonathan Velasquez Sr., 29, on Tuesday on suspicion of child endangerment for the Oct. 11 incident. The Police Department's Family Investigative Response Services Team and Solano Child Welfare Services investigated and discovered the infant either inhaled or ingested enough marijuana to require immediate medical attention, Sgt. Charlie Spruill said.
Velasquez is the baby's father, Sacramento-area TV station Fox 40 reported.
The boy was exposed to the marijuana while he was with Velasquez either at a south Vacaville residence or at a park where the boy's birthday was to be held on Oct. 11, police said. Velasquez left the child at the house and headed to the park to get ready for the birthday party, Spruill said.
The boy's mother and other relatives were sure there was something wrong with the baby. They thought he had the flu because he was acting tired and unresponsive. They took him to UC Davis Hospital, where they learned the ugly truth -- the baby was high.
"We don't know whether he ingested or inhaled it." Spruill said. "It happened within minutes."
The boy has a 2-year-old brother, who, police said, was not exposed to the pot. Velasquez's wife told Fox 40 that he feels terrible about what happened. Both boys were taken into protective custody but have since been returned to their mother.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
First Published: Oct 21, 2009 6:54 AM PST
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