In a case that is pulling at the heartstrings of Indianapolis residents, IMPD detectives have arrested 62-year-old Demetrius Barnes on charges related to a child's overdose, following the ingestion of THC-laced edibles. According to a social media post from IMPD News, officers were called to the 7100 block of Dianella Way on Tuesday, after a child had been found unresponsive due to an apparent overdose. The child had consumed the drug-laden edibles earlier in the day and slipped into an extended state of drowsiness, setting off a series of events leading to the family member discovering the child in this state and Barnes's subsequent arrest.
When police and EMS arrived on the scene, they found the child breathing but unresponsive – the 2-year-old had been in this worrisome condition since consuming the edibles at approximately 3 to 4 AM; family returned around noon to find the unsettling scene and called for help. After the child was transported to the hospital and determined to be in stable condition, IMPD Child Abuse detectives commenced an inquiry revealing that Barnes knew about the incident but failed to report it, IMPD News provided these details.
Charges against Barnes include Neglect of a Dependent and Interfering with Reporting a Crime, and the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office is expected to deliver the final charging decisions. While an arrest can mark the beginning of a narrative filled with judicial proceedings, it is important to remember, as IMPD News underscores, that "an arrest is merely an accusation, and the individuals arrested should be considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law."
