Toddler Smoking Marijuana Video Sparks Investigation in Chicago
Chicago detectives are investigating a video that appears to show a toddler being encouraged to smoke marijuana.
The young child in the video, which was shared on Facebook, is wearing only a diaper and sitting on a chair as he appears to be smoking pot. Meanwhile, a man's voice can be heard in the background saying "smoke man" and "inhale." At another point in the video, the adult is heard making sounds to show the boy how to inhale the smoke.
The child puts the joint to his mouth two times before the man says, "Let me hit that, OK?"
Now detectives are trying to determine the authenticity of the video and if it was recorded locally, reports WPVI. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the Illinois State Attorney General and detectives with the Area South Special Victims unit are also investigating.
The video was brought to police by community activist Andrew Holmes on Wednesday after a tipster showed it to him on social media.
"This is sickening," Holmes said about the video, which had received over 500 likes on Facebook and 1,200 comments by the time he captured it, according to NBC Chicago.
"This child needs help ASAP if he hasn't had help already. It's disturbing to hear the adult that was in the background to let them hit it and they're telling the child to inhale," he said.
Holmes also encouraged anyone with information about the child to contact the Chicago Police Department.
According to FOX 32, detectives from the Special Victims Unit at Area South Headquarters are actively pursuing the people in the video and they have a strong lead about who the identity of the adult in the footage. If found, the adult may be arrested on child endangerment charges.
While speaking to FOX 32, Holmes said both the child and the adult in the video need help.
"Well it's still stupidity but at the same time I want to rush to find out who these individuals are, get them some help because they need to be incarcerated and counseling but I want to mainly make sure we get emergency response to find out who this child is," he said.
Warning: The video below is graphic.
Subscribe to Latin Post!
Sign up for our free newsletter for the Latest coverage!