Two Atlantic County women are charged with endangering the welfare of a child, after it was discovered a toddler ingested methamphetamine, police said.
Officer Randy Collins received a report April 30, that a 16-month-old child ingested the drug, Capt. Cherie Burgan said.
But no one called police on the day of the overdose, according to the report.
Instead, the unidentified reporter went to police after they learned of the incident, Burgan said. Neither the date of the overdose nor reporter's relationship was released.
The child already had recovered when police were made aware.
A video of the incident accompanied the report. Burgan said.
Detective Ray Wilson began an investigation with the Division of Child Protection and Permanency and medical professionals.
This confirmed the child had ingested methamphetamine, Burgan said.
Warrants were issues for Holly Peace and Gabrielle DePasquale on May 21.
DePasquale, 44, of Atlantic City, was arrested two days later by Mount Laurel police. She was released following a detention hearing, court records show.
Both are charged with endangering the welfare of a child.
Peace, 43, of Egg Harbor Township, is additionally charged with neglect of a child and possession of a controlled dangerous substance.
She was arrested Wednesday, and is in the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending a detention hearing.
"Our agency would like to make it very clear that when a child ingests any type of substance, he or she should be taken to a medical facility immediately," Burgan said in the release. "And when appropriate, law enforcement should be contacted regarding the same. This child fortunately recovered from ingesting the substance, but that may not always be the case."
DePasquale has several open cases, including theft by unlawful taking out of Atlantic City and receiving stolen property out of Ventnor both from March.
Peace has a criminal history dating back years, and including allegations of shoplifting, harassment and a drug charges, court records show.
Anyone who knows of an incident of abuse or neglect who does not want to call police is urged to call 1-877-NJ Abuse.
