Shantonia Heard thought her 1-year-old had ingested Epsom salt when she took a cup with a clear, crystal substance from her.
She knew something was wrong when two hours later the toddler was “acting erratically and scratching herself feverishly,” according to Cobb County arrest warrants. The 1-year-old was rushed to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Hughes Spalding, where officials told police she ingested methamphetamine.
Heard, 27, and boyfriend Lorenzo Harris, 40 were eventually arrested after police discovered the couple had been running a drug lab out of their Smyrna hotel room in front Heard’s toddler and 3-year-old.
Police searched the couple’s hotel room, saw that fire alarms were removed and found “evidence of marijuana use by way of cigarillos.”
As they were searching the room, Harris pulled up to the hotel in his car, which had “a strong odor marijuana” coming from it.
A search warrant was obtained for the car and police found marijuana, crack cocaine, methamphetamine and heroine in clear plastic baggies.
Police also found $9,215 and three guns – a Smith and Wesson SW9VE 9 mm, a Taurus Millennium G2 9 mm, and a Kalishnikov AK47. 762 caliber rifle – in the car.
Harris and Heard remained in the Cobb County jail Monday evening without bond and face drug, weapons and child cruelty charges.
The children are in protective custody with the Division of Family and Children Services.
