The mother and grandmother of a 4-year-old Darlington girl were arrested Tuesday after the child ate cocaine from a bag she found in the suspects’ home, Darlington County Sheriff’s Capt. Andy Locklair said.
Jessica McKnight, 21, and Dorothy McKnight Green, 51, both of 123 Robin Lane in Darlington, are each charged with one count of unlawful conduct toward a child, Darlington County Detention Center booking reports show.
The S.C. Department of Social Services received an anonymous tip that the girl found a baggy of cocaine in the home and started eating from it, Locklair said.
Authorities performed a hair follicle test on the child and found cocaine in her body.
Darlington County sheriff’s deputies began investigating the incident in February after DSS case workers contacted them, Locklair said.
The 4-year-old and a 1-year-old child who was also living in the home were placed in emergency protective custody. The younger child didn’t test positive for cocaine, Locklair said.
The 4-year-old wasn’t injured, Locklair said.
The two women were arrested Tuesday after deputies completed the investigation, he said.
“This is no different than having a loaded gun laying out and a child getting hold of it,” Locklair said.
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This topic can be heavily debated in many ways. Cocaine and a loaded firearm are both EXTREMELY DANGEROUS in the hands of a minor. What can be even DEADLIER as well as more common would be a book/box of matches or household cleaners. What Cpt. Locklair fails fails to mention that there are more homes that have household cleaners and matches than do "loaded guns".
Having children in the home is a VERY BIG responsibility. It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that the adults in the home be responsible and PROPERLY SECURE anything that can be dangerous to the children.
gf
They both can be dangerous. The difference, A gun has a useful purpose. Cocaine no useful purpose as far as I know.
They both can be dangerous. The difference, A gun has a useful purpose. Cocaine no useful purpose as far as I know.
I don't think cocaine's usefulness matters for the purpose of this discussion. After all, one could argue keeping alcohol in the house serves no purpose other than recreation.
Cocaine's legal status aside for the sake of argument, I agree both can be dangerous. It is completely irresponsible for a parent or guardian to allow a child access to drugs (legal or otherwise) or to any loaded firearm. As common sense dictates this also applies to household cleaners and other chemicals, a hot iron or stove, etc.
Not all drug users are abusers, nor are they all irresponsible morons. These people, however, seem to fit nicely into that stereotype. I'm saddened any child is in a situation such as this, and I'm sincerely thankful the kid is ok. I hope this turns out to be a lasting wake-up call for the adults involved, and serves as a warning to the children later in life.
I understand the point Capt. Locklear was trying to make, but I don't think it was a very good analogy. It's really too bad firearms have been demonized to the point where this is a common and accepted viewpoint, especially in the media.
Although I do not drink any alcohol very often I would not put it in the same category as cocaine. Any use of cocaine other than perhaps prescribed by a physician for certain medical conditions as far as I am concerned is completely irresponsible to say the least. That is why I made the statement about the usefulness of cocaine compared to guns. IMHO.
Understood, and I'm not saying I disagree. I just meant that regardless of it's legal status or it's potential for abuse, any parent who allows their kids access to those types of things is grossly irresponsible, and in any such case comparing it to a legal firearm is a poor analogy.
:sarcastic: I thought that's why they invented the television.
Before anyone accuses me a trolling, that's meant to be toungue-in-cheek.
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