CINCINNATI – A man overdosed and crashed while he had his 1-year-old son in the vehicle with him Friday.
Police found Ryan Harding, 23, laying in the front seat of a 1996 Jeep that had crashed into a fence at the bottom of a small embankment in the 6500 block of Hasler Lane at about 4:45 p.m.
Harding was not breathing, and a hypodermic syringe was in the center console, according to court records. First responders administered Narcan to Harding, which caused him to become alert.
The child was injured. A case worker checked on the child before releasing the boy to his mother.
Family members expressed shock when they learned of the incident.
"I had no idea that he was even messing with that stuff," the boy's maternal grandfather, Garry Futch, said. "It's crazy. Especially having one of my grandchildren with him: that's just totally crazy."
Harding admitted to passing out, but initially claimed he hadn’t used any drugs, according to court records. Police said he later admitted to buying and using heroin with his cousin.
Police charged Harding with endangering children, possession of drug abuse instruments, OVI and driving under suspension.
Futch said he hoped police would crack down not just on the users, but the dealers.
"It's out of hand... and if they start doing something more serious about it, then I think that stuff will stop, or even get slowed down," he said.
Futch said he hoped Harding would get "straightened out."
The boy was staying with his grandparents Saturday night. Futch said his grandchildren would be taken care of.
"I love them like they're my own kids, which they are," he said. "They are from my daughter. I love them to death."
