2-year-old ingests fentanyl, father from Porterville arrested, deputies say
PORTERVILLE, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A two-year-old child is recovering at Valley Children’s Hospital after he was found to have ingested fentanyl, according to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office
Jail records show that his father, 25-year-old Gary Stewart of Porterville, was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment.
According to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, on Monday deputies were called to the Sub-100 block of Chimney Road on the Tule River Indian Reservation for a two-year-old not breathing and unresponsive.
Deputies say the child was transported to Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera County. Stewart told deputies that the child had fallen asleep with a mouth full of chips when he began to choke. Medical personnel established that the two-year-old had fentanyl in his system, prompting a call to Child Welfare Services.
Stewart had admitted to detectives that he had fentanyl on him, which was how the child had gotten it into his system, according to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. Stewart was later booked into the Tulare County Jail.
Officers say the child is currently listed in stable condition and is expected to recover.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Detective Jeremy McMillian and/or Sergeant Merced Zamora with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 733-6218.
