Dad Arrested After 10-Year-Old Son Eats Marijuana Candy He Found in the Car: Police
Police say a 37-year-old father from Rockland County, New York, has been arrested after his son accidentally ate sour gummy candy this weekend that was infused with THC — the mind-altering chemical found in marijuana.
Ephraim Zagelbaum was arrested on Sunday and charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, according to Ramapo, New York, Police Department detective Lt. Mark Emma.
The incident began earlier that same day when Zagelbaum and his 10-year-old son were at a park when it started to rain, Emma tells PEOPLE.
"The boy goes to the car to get out of the rain, and while he is there by himself, finds the marijuana candy and ends up eating some of it — a piece or two — and ends up getting sick," he says.
"[The bag] had a small marijuana leaf in the corner, but a kid is not going to know what that is," he says.
According to Emma, the candy was FlavRx Pink Lemonade Belts and each piece was infused THC, the chemical that causes marijuana's psychoactive effects.
Thinking the boy became ill from "other issues," Zagelbaum gave his son a dose of an antihistamine, which also made him feel sick, Emma says. The child then told his father that he'd eaten some of the candy in the car — but he'd only eaten a little because he didn't like the taste.
Zagelbaum took his son to a local hospital, where he was treated and released
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Ramapo police were called while the boy was in the emergency room, and Emma says Zagelbaum told them he had borrowed the car from a friend.
Zagelbaum said that once he realized the candy was in the car, he unsuccessfully tried to hide it in the seat so his son wouldn't find it, Emma says.
He was released from police custody on his own recognizance for the misdemeanor charge, Emma says. The case is still being investigated and he may face other charges.
Efforts to reach Zagelbaum for comment on Monday were unsuccessful, and it is unclear if he has retained an attorney. He will be arraigned on June 13.
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