Parents arrested after baby overdoses
Parents were arrested for aggravated assault after their baby boy overdosed on heroin/fentanyl and was revived.
WEST FALLOWFIELD >> Two parents were arrested for aggravated assault after their baby boy overdosed on heroin/fentanyl and was revived with Narcan, according to state police.
Pennsylvania State Police Troop J — Avondale Barracks responded at about 6:45 p.m. Wednesday to a residence on Limestone Road in West Fallowfield Township to assist Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel with the treatment of an 11-month-old child who was not breathing.
It was reported that the child may have been suffering from an overdose of heroin/fentanyl. EMS personnel administered three doses of Narcan to the 11-month-old and immediately transported him to AI Dupont Hospital in Delaware.
Narcan, the brand name of naloxone, is used in an emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose to counter the effects of an opioid overdose. Opioids are a class of drugs that include prescription medications such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine, as well as the illegal drug heroin, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
When someone overdoses on an opioid, it can be difficult to awaken the person, and breathing may become shallow or stop, leading to death if there is no medical intervention, according to the FDA website.
Troopers conducted interviews of the child’s parents, identified by state police as Charles R. Salzman Jr., 31, and Kristen Bristow, 30, both of Atglen.
State police said on Thursday that the investigation revealed that Salzman and Bristow had reportedly ingested heroin/ fentanyl and fell asleep inside their vehicle along with their child while parked at the rear of the residence.
As his parents slept, the 11-month-old child found and ingested heroin/fentanyl while seated inside the vehicle, according to state police. A family member found the baby unconscious and not breathing. The baby was admitted at AI Dupont Hospital and is receiving treatment for an overdose on heroin/ fentanyl, according to state police.
Troopers from the Avondale Criminal Investigation Unit and the Forensic Services Unit responded to the scene. Troopers recovered numerous bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl and assorted paraphernalia from inside the residence on Limestone Road. Charges were prepared by a member of the Criminal Investigation Unit for aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person and related charges against Salzman and Bristow. Salzman was additionally charged with tampering with fabricating physical evidence, according to his online criminal report.
Both were then transported to Chester County Prison and remain there, unable to post bail. They both were arraigned Thursday by Magisterial District Judge Nancy A. Gill. Their preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 10 with Gill.