Guardia Civil officers in La Rioja investigated a 22-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman as presumed perpetrators of serious negligent injury and breach of parental duties after their 14-month-old son suffered cannabis intoxication.[1] The two people under investigation are the child’s mother and father.[1]
The case began when emergency health protocols were activated for the child’s hospital admission in the autonomous community.[1] The baby showed pronounced listlessness and drowsiness, prompting medical tests to determine the cause.[1] Toxicology tests confirmed cannabis in the infant’s body, establishing intoxication with the drug.[1] The child remained hospitalised with a moderate prognosis.[1] The parents told investigators the intoxication may have happened accidentally when the baby inhaled smoke in a public park where others were allegedly using cannabis nearby.[1] Investigators found nothing to corroborate that account or reasonably explain how the intoxication occurred.[1] Officers therefore proceeded to investigate both parents for alleged involvement in the cited offences.[1]
Child-protection protocols were activated alongside the police inquiry, placing the baby under provisional guardianship and custody of social services pending protective measures and liability decisions.[1] The Guardia Civil said any act or omission endangering a minor’s physical integrity, health or welfare can have legal consequences and will be investigated.[1] The force said it would release no further information about the case or the locality where it happened to protect the child’s privacy and best interests under child-protection rules.[1]
