Toddler Hospitalized After Eating Synthetic Marijuana

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A 45-year-old St. Petersburg man faces child neglect charges after Pinellas County deputies say a 3-year-old in his care ingested synthetic marijuana over the weekend.

The incident came to deputies’ attention Sunday after the man, identified as Christopher Lee Clark, called 911. The girl, whose relationship to Clark has not been released, apparently took the drug, also known as spice, out of the man’s pocket on Saturday and ate it.

Deputies say it is unclear just how much the child ingested, but noted in an email to media, the child became progressively sicker overnight on Saturday and then began vomiting Sunday morning before becoming “lethargic and unresponsive.”

At that point, deputies say Clark called 911. The girl was taken to All Children’s Hospital by ambulance, the sheriff’s office said. She is, however, expected to survive.

An investigation was kicked off by the Crimes Against Children Unit. Detectives say Clark told them he purchased spice and knew the child had ingested it. It was also found that he had smoked the substance on at least two occasions while the child was in his care, the email said.

Clark was charged with child neglect and booked into the Pinellas County Jail. He was being held Monday morning in lieu of $20,000 bond.

Booking photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Jail