2nd suspect charged in 14-month-old toddler’s possible fentanyl overdose, NC police say
Editor’s note: This story was updated with new information on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022.
A 14-month-old toddler continues to recover at a North Carolina hospital after a suspected fentanyl overdose, and two are charged with child abuse, Monroe police said this week.
On Tuesday, officers executed a search warrant at a home in the 1000 block of South Church Street in the Union County city, police said.
Following the search, police arrested and charged 29-year-old Tyler Shelton Perry with felony child abuse, trafficking in opium or heroin, possession with intent to manufacture sell/deliver a controlled substance, possession of schedule I, manufacture marijuana, possession of cocaine and maintain a dwelling for use, storage, or sale of controlled substances.
On Thursday, Stallings police, with information from the Monroe department, arrested 27-year-old Amber Nichole Gale. She also is charged with felony child abuse.
Police have not said how Perry and Gale are related to the infant.
Gale is being held at the Union County Jail under a $500,000 secured bond, according to the Union County Sheriff’s Office website. Perry is under a $550,000 secured bond.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used to treat severe pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s more powerful than heroin. Most recent cases of fentanyl-related harm, overdose and death in the U.S. are linked to illegally made versions of the drug.
This story was originally published January 5, 2022 at 5:55 PM.
