WARNING: DISTURBING IMAGES. 47-year-old James Acord claimed he was taking the passenger who was slumped over in the passenger seat to a hospital – but he soon collapsed himself and police were forced to call in paramedics
These disturbing pictures show a man and woman allegedly overdosed on heroin , collapsed in their car with a toddler in the backseat. The shocking images have been released by police in a bid to raise awareness of the drugs epidemic.
The pair were spotted driving erratically in the City of East Liverpool, Ohio, by officers before their vehicle came to a sudden stop near a school bus full of children, according to reports. Then an officer approached the vehicle, the driver James Acord appeared intoxicated with unintelligible speech and his head bobbing back and forth.
The 47-year-old claimed he was taking Rhonda Pasek, who was slumped over in the passenger seat, to a hospital . When he tried to drive away the officer pulled the keys out of the ignition and spotted his four-year-old child in the back seat.
Police have now released disturbing images of the pair to counter the “strong grip” heroin has on their city and discourage users from taking drugs while looking after children.
A Facebook post accompanying the pictures said: “We are well aware that some may be offended by these images and for that we are truly sorry, but it is time that the non drug using public sees what we are now dealing with on a daily basis.
“The poison known as heroin has taken a strong grip on many communities not just ours, the difference is we are willing to fight this problem until it’s gone and if that means we offend a few people along the way we are prepared to deal with that.”
Paramedics treated the pair at the scene and they were then evaluated at a local hospital. Acord later pleaded no contest to charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and endangering children.
He was sentenced to 180 days in jail for each while investigators dropped a third charge of slowing or stopping in a road. The passenger was charged with endangering children, public intoxication and not wearing a seatbelt.
She pleaded not guilty and is being held on a $150,000 (£113,000) bond before a September court appearance. Her young son has been taken into the care of social services.
Paramedics treated the pair at the scene and they were then evaluated at a local hospital. Acord later pleaded no contest to charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and endangering children.
He was sentenced to 180 days in jail for each while investigators dropped a third charge of slowing or stopping in a road. The passenger was charged with endangering children, public intoxication and not wearing a seatbelt.
She pleaded not guilty and is being held on a $150,000 (£113,000) bond before a September court appearance. Her young son has been taken into the care of social services.
Its saddening and horrifying at the same time. I wonder how they can be so careless about the child and get themselves high on drugs. May their souls rest in peace and no more such accident happens.
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