A 2-year-old child was rushed to a Wichita hospital before dawn Friday after police say they found evidence of drug distribution inside a south Wichita home where the child was found unresponsive. Two other children living at the residence were placed into police protective custody, and police have not said whether any arrests have been made as the investigation continues.
Wichita police officers responded to the 100 block of East Shadyside Avenue just before 3 a.m. Friday to assist EMS with a report of an unresponsive 2-year-old, according to statements by the Wichita Police Department, reviewed by KAKE. EMS transported the child to a local hospital for treatment, and as of Friday afternoon the child was in critical condition, though the child was in critical condition as of Friday afternoon. The address sits near South Broadway and East 47th Street South in south Wichita, according to the same report.
Once inside, officers said they observed evidence consistent with the distribution of dangerous drugs, per the police department. Investigators are conducting interviews and working to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident, and the case remains active and ongoing. Police have not said whether any arrests have been made.
Bomb Squad Called to Secure the Scene
The Wichita Police Department deployed its bomb squad to the scene, where the unit was still conducting its investigation as of Friday. The report did not provide details about the unit's formal designation or responsibilities beyond the scene's investigation. The unit has been called out for similar reasons before: in October 2021, Wichita's bomb squad was deployed to secure a south Wichita residence after a butane drug manufacturing explosion, per city records.
The available report does not mention any previous police response to the East Shadyside Avenue address or details from such a call. It is not clear whether any earlier incident is connected to Friday's discovery.
Investigators were conducting interviews and working to determine the exact circumstances as part of the active investigation. Once released from the hospital, the 2-year-old will be placed in police protective custody, and the department has said it will release additional information as it becomes available.
What Kansas Law Says About Kids in Drug Homes
If investigators determine that the toddler's condition resulted from exposure to drugs found in the home, the adults responsible could face serious charges under Kansas law.
The available report does not provide details about similar Sedgwick County cases.
A Broader Pattern of Overdose Risk
The case comes amid broader concerns about children being harmed by exposure to synthetic opioids.
Nationally, accidental exposure to synthetic opioids left in the home remains a concern. Key questions remain unanswered in the Wichita case, including the child's updated condition, details about the dangerous drugs involved, the circumstances surrounding the other children in the home, and whether any adults will ultimately face charges.
