Police looking for the mother of 4-year-old boy rescued from traffic on a busy downtown DeLand street arrested her when they found her passed out from snorting crushed prescription pills, officials said.
Jacqueline Smith, 23, was charged with child neglect and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.
Police were called to New York and North Florida avenues at 4:50 p.m. Monday where the boy was seen running in and out of traffic. A man took the child by the hand and walked him safely off the busy street.
Thomas Pateras, who was up on a ladder, then took the child to the Putnam Hotel's lobby at 225 W. New York Ave. where the front desk person said the child lived on the third floor, police reports show.
The doors of the third-floor apartment were open and police could see Smith lying on a mattress in the living room. Officers shook Smith several times and talked to her but she would not wake up. Smith finally awoke when a flashlight was shined in her face, but was groggy, reports said.
When Smith moved her blanket, police saw a blue and white pill crusher and then noticed a white powdery substance on Smith's left nostril, police said.
Smith, who told police she has been taking Xanax and oxycodone for two years, said she snorted some Xanax because she had not slept in three days. She told police that after she took the drug she went to take a nap with the boy, reports state.
Smith said she snorted the pills instead of swallowing them because "the drug would hit her faster if she snorted them," police said.
Smith's apartment was a mess, police said.
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The Department of Children & Families took custody of the child, police said. Smith was being held Tuesday night at the Volusia County Branch Jail, with bail set at $1,750, a booking officer said.
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