Father of Girl Who Ingested Cocaine Held
The father of a 2-year-old girl who went into seizure after ingesting cocaine was being held on suspicion of felony child endangering Friday after Los Angeles police said they had “probable cause” to believe he was responsible.
Police spokesman Lt. Fred Nixon said Patrick Smalling, 24, was taken into custody Thursday afternoon and was booked Thursday night at Wilshire Division after interviews with him and others convinced detectives that it was “a good arrest.”
However, Nixon said, “some of the evidence is circumstantial.” He said the investigation is continuing and “we by no means are considering that we know everything that has occurred.”
Theresa Smalling suffered a seizure Wednesday morning at the Thompson’s Learning Village day-care center. She was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where on Friday she was listed in good condition.
Hospital spokeswoman Paula Correia said the child was transferred Friday from a pediatric intensive care unit to a regular pediatric room. Correia said hospital tests confirmed that the girl had ingested cocaine.
Theresa has been placed in the custody of the county Department of Children’s Services.
Nixon said police will decide by Monday whether to seek a formal complaint against Smalling, who was held on $3,000 bail.
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