Mom accused in child’s overdose

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GREENFIELD — A New Palestine mother was charged with felony neglect Monday after doctors were forced to use an overdose-reversing drug to revive her toddler when he injested several forms of narcotic drugs, police said.

Brooke Copp, 23, was arrested and charged with neglect of a dependent causing injury after her 18-month-old tested positive for opiates and methadone, ingredients found in heroin and some strong prescription pain medicines, according to court documents.

Copp took her son to Community Hospital East in Indianapolis late last week after the child appeared lethargic, she told police. The baby fell into a state of unresponsiveness at the hospital, and he had trouble breathing. Staffers at the facility used Narcan, a brand name of the prescription drug, naloxone, to reverse the effects of the drugs, court records state.

Family members at the hospital told police Copp has struggled with substance abuse in past and was known to use drugs such as heroin. A drug test following her arrest found Suboxone, morphine and cocaine in her system, court records state.

Copp and her son had been staying at a friend’s Greenfield home when the baby became sick.

Copp told police the baby slept through the night Wednesday but began acting out of character Thursday afternoon. He became fussy and clingy, had swelling around his eyes and vomited when she tried to feed him, court records state.

Copp took the baby to the emergency room at Community East, but the child was transferred to Riley Hospital for Children when tests revealed drugs in his system, court records state.

She initially refused requests for a drug screen when she was questioned by Hancock County sheriff’s detectives at Riley, court records state. She could not offer an explanation for how the child had ingested the drugs, court records state.

The baby is expected to make a full recovery, Sheriff’s Capt. Jeff Rashe said. The child will stay with a family member while Copp’s case continues, and the Department of Child Services will regularly monitor the baby’s care, court records state.

Investigators searched several homes where the child had been in the days leading up to falling ill, but nothing significant was found, Rasche said.

Copp’s case was filed in Hancock County Superior Court 1, where she appeared Monday afternoon and pleaded not guilty. If convicted of the Level 5 felony, she could spend one to six years in custody.

Her bond was set at $2,000 cash; and she remained in jail at press time.