Family of 1-year-old exposed to cocaine by former day care employee seeking additional charges
OAK CREEK, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Family members of a one-year-old who tested positive for cocaine are seeking additional charges against a former day care employee.
Twenty-four-year-old Passion Watson faces a drug possession charge after law enforcement found a baggie of cocaine in Watson's backpack.
On May 3rd, Kimberly Hopson noticed bruises on her son, then 11-month-old Prince's body. She says after Prince continued to throw up for two days, she took him to the hospital, where he tested positive for cocaine metabolites.
“What started as an abrasion to a nose escalated to a black and ended with cocaine in an 11-month-old baby," said B'Ivory LaMarr, an attorney representing Hopson's family.
According to the criminal complaint, investigators checked Hopson's home for cocaine, but did not find any.
"Can you imagine CPS coming to your house threatening to take your kids?" said Hopson.
On May 22, a drug sniffing K9 found a bag of cocaine inside a backpack in KinderCare's infant room. Watson was arrested and charged with drug possession. She is currently out on a signature bond.
LaMarr says that's not enough.
“We are seeking neglect charges which have been forwarded to the district attorney’s office," said LaMarr. “They failed in its most fundamental duty which is to protect the children entrusted to its care.”
In the past three years, the Oak Creek KinderCare location has had 22 other violations. In a statement, KinderCare says “all of our centers and programs are drug, alcohol and tobacco free.”
Hopson says that doesn't explain why her son was exposed to cocaine at their Oak Creek facility.
“I hate driving past this place every day. I can’t believe what happened to my son. How could you do that to an innocent baby?” said Hopson.
Hopson says Prince is still suffering from the effects of cocaine being found in his system, including not eating, throwing up and being scared.
"I pray my son gets justice because this is just unacceptable," said Hopson.
LaMarr says if KinderCare doesn't make changes to how it operates, they will consider filing a lawsuit.
“It’s on the table. A lawsuit is on the table," said LaMarr.