Police Post Shocking Pictures Of Adults Who Overdosed With 4-Year-Old In Vehicle

EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio – Police posted shocking pictures of two adults who overdosed in a car with a 4-year-old boy in the backseat. They’re hoping it sends a message to drug users to think twice before abusing drugs.

“We feel it necessary to show the other side of this horrible drug. We feel we need to be a voice for the children caught up in this horrible mess. This child can’t speak for himself but we are hopeful his story can convince another user to think twice about injecting this poison while having a child in their custody,” wrote the City of East Liverpool, Ohio.

According to a police report, an East Liverpool officer spotted a Ford Explorer driving erratically and then slamming on the brakes as it approached a stopped school bus that was dropping kids off.

The SUV came to a stop in the middle of the road and the officer approached the vehicle.

According to the officer, the driver’s head was bobbing, and his speech was nearly unintelligible.

Police identified the driver as James Acord. He told the officer he was taking his passenger, Rhonda Pasek, to the hospital. Pasek was passed out in the front seat.

Police say Acord attempted to drive away, so he reached into the vehicle, turned it off, and removed the keys. That’s when the officer noticed a 4-year-old boy in the back seat. The boy was later identified as Pasek’s son.

The officer said Acord passed out as well, and EMS responded to the scene and administered Narcan. Acord and Pasek were transported to the hospital.

Acord faces charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, endangering children, and slowing or stopping in a roadway. Pasek’s charges include endangering children, public intoxication, and not wearing a seat belt.

Police say the young boy is in the custody of Columbiana County Children’s Services.

“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,” wrote the City of East Liverpool, Ohio.