Couple faces charges after man overdoses in front of kids

Couple faces charges after man overdoses in front of kids

YOUNGSTOWN

A Columbiana County couple was arrested Tuesday on three counts each of child endangering after police say the father overdosed on drugs in front of their three children in a South Side parking lot.

Andrea McFarland, 28, and Eric McFarland, 34, of New Waterford, also face a count of possessing drug abuse instruments and Amanda McFarland faces an additional charge of permitting drug abuse. They are expected to be arraigned in Youngstown Municipal Court this afternoon.

Reports said officers were called to a 1740 Market St. parking lot at Community Corrections Association about 2 p.m. for a report of a man who may have overdosed in a car. When they arrived they found Eric McFarland lying on the pavement next to the car, reports said.

Andrea McFarland went into the building and asked them to call for help and she took her three children inside with her, reports said.

As ambulance workers treated Eric McFarland police searched the car and found a needle and spoon inside, reports said. Reports also said the three children were dirty and still in their pajamas and Mahoning County Children Services workers were called to the scene.

The couple has an open case with Columbiana County Children Services and that agency was contacted as well before the children were released to a grandparent, reports said.

Andrea McFarland was taken to the county jail and her husband was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center to be treated and a police hold was placed on him.

The report did not say if the couple were married.