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PD: Parents use heroin at Atrium, child removed

Posted at 5:49 AM, Feb 24, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-24 18:00:45-05

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — Middletown police say they removed a 2-year-old child from her parents after they were found with heroin in their hospital room Friday afternoon at the Atrium Medical Center.

The Journal-News reported that an employee reported she suspected a patient was using illegal drugs. A nurse told police she had been caring for Rodney Brown, 49, of Hamilton, for several days after a recent surgery. Brown's wife, Jasmin Brown, 23, of Hamilton, and a 2-year-old child had been staying with him in the room. The nurse reported to police that they would not allow housekeeping to enter the room. 

When they finally entered the room, hospital staff found seven syringes and handed them over to police. Jasmin told police she had picked them up because employees at the hospital left them lying around. The liquid inside three of the syringes tested positive for heroin, according to police reports.

A representative from Butler County Children Services told police the agency had three previous complaints of suspected drug use against Brown and his wife. The police report stated that the couple wouldn't cooperate with police, so until now BCCS didn't have enough proof to take custody of the child.

This comes just a month after a similar case at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital where Alabama couple MaryAnn Landers, 31, and Wesley Landers, 32, were found unresponsive in a hospital room just hours after their 7-month-old daughter had surgery to enlarge her trachea.

MaryAnn later died and Wesley has been indicted by a grand jury. Their child is staying with family.

The Journal-News is a media partner of WCPO - 9 On Your Side.