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Davan Philip Thomas was charged by Upper Southampton police on Sept. 4 after an investigation found that he "negligently allowed a juvenile in his care to ingest a dangerous substance," police said on Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Thomas "violated a duty of care and protection when (he) failed to take necessary steps to isolate illegal drugs from the child's access which created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury," the police complaint says.
The child was taken to the emergency department at Jefferson Abington Hospital "after displaying a change in mental status following a fall," the police stated in the affidavit of affidavit noting that, "testing revealed the presence of cannabinoids. Parents told hospital staff that the THC gummies are kept in a drawer which is within reach of the child."
The young parents were interviewed by the police, explaining that the THC gummies were purchased by the child's father while in New Jersey, the complaint states.
Thomas allegedly "was using the gummies while drawing at the kitchen table," on Thursday evening, Aug. 22, as explained in the affidavit. "The unconsumed gummies were then left unattended on the kitchen table when he left for work the next morning," according to the complaint.
The child "subsequently accessed the table and ingested the gummies," the complaint says. "Neither parent possesses a Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program Patient Identification Card."
Thomas also was charged with possessing "a small amount" of marijuana for personal use, according to the police complaint against him.
Thomas was released on $7,500 unsecured bail, according to court records.
He was due to appear at a preliminary hearing on Thursday, Sept. 12 but that hearing has been continued to a later undetermined date, a court clerk said.
The infant's current condition was unavailable.
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