Boy, 4, Hands Out Cocaine 'Candy' at New Jersey Day Care Center
Categories: Preschoolers, In The News, Weird But True, Alcohol & Drugs, Extreme Childhood
Shaheed Wight allegedly hid cocaine in his 4-year-old's jacket -- and the boy passed it out to his friends. Credit: Newark Police
Shaheed Wright of East Orange, N.J. allegedly hid several bags of cocaine in the pockets of his son's jacket last week, fearing that police were about to arrest him, according to NJ.com. The boy decided to share this supposed treat with his classmates at a Newark day care center.
A teacher at Clinton Avenue Daycare noticed that one little girl had something in her mouth, and then saw that it was a small bag filled with powder.
The girl who ingested the drugs was rushed to the hospital by ambulance, along with Wright's son and two other boys from the day care center who were also thought to have ingested the cocaine, according to NJ.com. The girl was the only child who actually swallowed the drug, according to the story.
Todd McClendon, a spokesman for Newark Police, told NJ.com that all four children are fine and have been released.
Wright, 25, was arrested and faces charges of endangering the welfare of a child, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, as well as employing a juvenile in a narcotics scheme. He is being held on $400,000 bail, according to NJ.com, and was led out of Newark Police Headquarters in shackles.
He was asked if he wanted to say anything to the parents of the children who were taken to the hospital.
"I apologize deeply," he replied, according to the Web site.
The state's Division of Youth and Family Services is also investigating the incident, according to NJ.com.
Should the other parents accept Wright's apology? Would you?
Recent Posts
- Study Suggests Link Between Autism and Parents' Ages (2/09/2010)
- Just Chute Me! (Or: Do We REALLY Have to Play with Our Kids?) (2/09/2010)
- Atlanta Billboards Proclaim 'Black Children Are An Endangered Species' (2/09/2010)
- Canadian Hospital Offers Surgery for Obese Children (2/09/2010)
- Celeb Clan Close-Up: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Maddox Hit the Super Bowl (2/08/2010)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Jason 9-21-2009 @ 6:01PM
Umm... no.
Reply
richard 9-21-2009 @ 7:36PM
I think they should find more charges to give him than the ones that he is facing. Especially since he was very lucky that the teacher caught it. Also that he got lucky that they didn't try his "candy" as soon as it was given to other kids. The amounts that could have done extreme damage is small for a kid and luckly it didn't.
MARIA 9-22-2009 @ 12:16AM
SOMEONE NEEDS TO CALL CHILD WELFARE HAVE THE CHILD REMOVED FROM THE HOME ! THE CHILD IS NOT SAFE IN THE HOME ! HOW ABOUT IF HE TOOK THE DRUGS HIS SELF? WHY IS THERE THE DRUGS IN THE FIRST PLACE? IS HE A DRUG DEALER ? IF HE IS WHAT OTHER KINDS OF DRUGS CAN THIS CHILD COME TO SCHOOL WITH NEXT ? NO CHILD NEEDS A LIFE STYLE LIKE THAT ! ITS A SHAME FOR THE BOY
jackie 9-23-2009 @ 11:01AM
Maria
in a case like this they will automatically take the child.
BlackISBlack 9-24-2009 @ 9:55PM
That's why kids turn out so well these days. They have such loving and intelligent parents!
Lisa 9-22-2009 @ 5:42PM
Wow you are father of the year!
mallfacee 9-22-2009 @ 6:57PM
I think the kid got taken out of the house... I don't think their is a soul on the Earth who is stupid enough to leave a child in that enviroment.
ks 9-24-2009 @ 1:26PM
Uhh.. that is child endangerment.. he should have one count for his son and however many others that his son was able to hand out. What an idiot!!! What a selfish man? You would think he would rather be caught then risk his son taking it or in this case passing it off to other kids!!!!!
tina w. 10-02-2009 @ 11:45PM
i know the economy is bad right now, and you have to put food on the table. (sometimes by any means necessary). but damn, what the hell was he thinking. he just added to the stereo type of black people. fathers not taking care of their kids, he was obviously trying but made some stupid choices.
Christina 10-17-2009 @ 12:53AM
I think they need to lock him in a room with nothing in it with just a little light. Then give him a very large amount by injection of cocaine. Now lets see how much you liked that candy?
drphess04 9-21-2009 @ 8:20PM
This was cocaine, folks! These children could have died! Thank goodness the teacher spotted it! This man should definitely be prosecuted for this and the child taken away! It makes me sick that this happened in my state!
Reply
motherof3 9-23-2009 @ 2:44PM
You are right 100%! I used to use cocaine when my oldest was almost 4-5 1/2 yrs old. I was horrible i always left it in my car terrified that my son would get to it. They one day partying with the wrong crowd, I was arrested. Whats worse my son and nephew got dropped at the hotel we were at right before the police came. I almost lost my child and my fredom. I was charged with Selling, not using and the charges got dropped, but I spent 4 mo. in jail with not one pic, or phone call from my mother-in-law to talk to my son. I've been clean for 3years on Nov. 22 and My husband and I are throwing a party. I don't think I will ever really get over it. I love my son, but in the end I quit for myself alone! I Don't think that man really cared about his son. You kill yourself everytime you do it and he could have killed those children. I pray that little boy doesn/t remeber this like my son, It not a memory a child should have to have!
Chelle 9-21-2009 @ 8:48PM
You gotta be kiddin' me? His apology is as empty as his parenting skills are seriously lacking. I am not the one to tolerate anyone hurting my children in the slightest way-let alone maybe giving a kid a taste, a predisposition for cocaine use/addiction!!!! OMGGGGG. Thank you,Jesus this did not happen to my child-as I might beat this idiot into his next lifetime had it happened to my child. WOW. People have truly lost their damn minds. How can u put cocaine on your 4-yr old to avoid a drug charge you obviously worked and earned yourself, you jackass. Poor baby. This man should be kept away from this innocent child as it is clear, this father does NOT have the ability to assess what is right/wrong if it benefits himself, he will forsake his child. Cut him off like the cancer he is.
Reply
Beckie 9-22-2009 @ 12:32AM
Wow, I so agree with your comment. You said it like it should be said. I wish there were more good parents like us
Elizabeth 9-22-2009 @ 6:07AM
Didn't Jesus teach forgiveness? If you truly believe in his ways, you would accept this man's apology and move on. Or doesn't that part of the bible apply to you?
Rachel 9-22-2009 @ 10:29AM
That man deserves to have the crap beaten out of him! There is NO EXCUSE for what he did.
LS 9-22-2009 @ 1:15PM
Elizabeth... yes, Jesus taught forgiveness.
But "forgiveness" doesn't mean just saying, "Oh, that's ok" when someone gives a child a potentially fatal substance and then turns around and says, "uh, sorry". That's not an apology. That is someone trying whatever he can to keep his sorry butt out of more trouble.
Agiannoni 9-22-2009 @ 2:55PM
apologize!!!! Are u kidding, this idiot doesnt deserve to have a child under his supervision and lets hope he never gets a chance to do this again. To put your child or any other person at risk is absolutely disgusting.
mindy 9-22-2009 @ 6:04PM
I say amen to everyone that said this guy didn't have any parenting skills........or brains b-cuz if he did he never would have put that on his precious 4yr old child and the other children involved wouldn't of had to go thru what they did and ur right he will be reunited w/his son before it's all over,i feel sorry for the child,,,he should be w/someone that will take care of him not try to save their own ass,the bible also says obey your mother and father but what about trying to protect your children from harm they are only on loan to us don't let drugs spoil the chance u have with ur child(ren)
Missy 9-22-2009 @ 6:54PM
Amen to that, this guy doesn't even deserve to walk on the same planet as these poor children do.