Father charged in accidental infant OD

A Mohnton man has been charged in the accidental overdose of his infant son, state police said Wednesday.

A Mohnton man has been charged in the accidental overdose of his infant son, state police at Hamburg said Wednesday.

Edwin Cordero-Mercado, 21, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, according to state police. He had not been taken into custody as of Wednesday afternoon.

Berks County Children and Youth is involved in the investigation and has set up a safety plan for the infant, who was released to his mother. According to troopers:

State police and emergency medical crews responded to a Mohnton home on Dec. 6 for an infant who suffered an accidental overdose.

The 9-month-old boy was taken by Southern Berks Ambulance to Reading Hospital around 11 p.m. from his home on Grove Avenue.

The infant was given naloxone at Reading Hospital and then transported to Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, where he was treated and released to his mother.

Toxicology reports from the hospital show the infant had fentanyl in his system.

Investigators from the Hamburg Crime Unit discovered drugs and drug paraphernalia, including hypodermic needles and suspected heroin and fentanyl, at the infant’s home.

Investigators determined CorderoMercado used heroin and fentanyl in the apartment, and at some point during the night touched the infant. That caused the 9-month-old to ingest or absorb fentanyl.