DELAND, Fla. — Police arrested two adults for felony child abuse for using drugs near a 2-year-old girl inside a roach-infested vehicle.
A Deland officer noticed the adults inside a car parked at Highland Park around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25.
Police say the vehicle was turned off while temperatures outside were in the high 90s. After waiting ten minutes, the officer approached the car to ask the adults if they needed help.
According to the police report, the officer noticed the man inside, later identified as 30-year-old David Dexter, make movements that looked like he was trying to hide something.
The officer said he noticed drug paraphernalia in plain sight as he spoke to Dexter and 28-year-old Christan Wilson. At that point the officer began a narcotics investigation.
Police say a search of the car revealed several needles used to inject narcotics, paraphernalia used to prepare narcotics for injection, opened and spoiled food containers, dirty diapers, soiled clothing and several insect species, including roaches.
Tests revealed the substance in one needle as opioids.
After arresting Dexter, the officer saw the 2-year-old girl walking around in the car wearing a soiled diaper. The toddler had numerous scabs on her legs. The insects in the car were walking across the seat near the girl.
During questioning, police say Dexter explained a wound on the child’s neck occurred when the girl accidently bumped into someone’s lit cigarette in downtown DeLand. He also said the needle contained Dilaudid and he and Wilson purchased the drugs while the girl was in the car.
Dexter and Wilson are charged with one count each of felony child abuse, possession of a schedule II substance and one misdemeanor charge each of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Paramedics medically cleared the 2-year-old who was turned over to a family member.
