In this Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016 photo released by the East Liverpool Police Department, a young child sits in a vehicle behind his mother and a man, both of whom are unconscious from a drug overdose, in East Liverpool, Ohio. The police department said it's trying to show the impact of the heroin and painkiller epidemic by sharing photos of the boy sitting in the vehicle behind the slumped-over adults who were later revived with an overdose antidote. The couple faces child-endangering and other charges. (East Liverpool Police Department via AP) (The Associated Press)
EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio – The safety director in an Ohio city that released photos of a 4-year-old boy in a vehicle with two adults slumped over after overdosing says he wanted to send a message to addicts that they should find a safe place for their children when using drugs like heroin and fentanyl.
The photos taken Wednesday went viral after the East Liverpool Police Department posted them to its Facebook page. Safety Director Brian Allen says he expected "pushback" from releasing the photos but would do it again.
The adults are the boy's grandmother and her boyfriend. The 50-year-old grandmother is being held on child endangerment charges. Her 47-year-old boyfriend received 360 days in jail after pleading guilty to child endangerment and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
The boy is in county custody.
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