4-year-old grandchild in room where Bradenton couple overdosed, police say

BRADENTON, Fla. - Bradenton police said a couple was found unconscious in a motel room due to an opioid overdose. Their 4-year-old grandchild was in the room with them.

Around 10:30 a.m. Saturday, officers responded to the motel in the 1400 block of 14th Street West after receiving a report of a possible narcotics overdose. Police said a motel employee, who was providing room service, found them in their room. 

The motel staff member used Narcan on the 46-year-old woman and paramedics administered Narcan on the 51-year-old man. 

Police said the child found inside the motel room was unharmed. The grandchild was taken into custody by a Child Protective Services investigator.  

READ: Bradenton murder suspect found in Miami four years after deadly nightclub shooting

The couple, identified by police as the child's grandparents, were taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital. 

Provided by Bradenton police

Since April, Bradenton Police have responded to more than 50 overdoses in the city limits. So far, 11 days into July, there's already been three suspected overdose deaths reported.

"When you are buying drugs off the street, you don't know what they've been laced with, what they've been cut with. So you might think you're buying one thing, and you could be getting something else," said Meredith Frameli, a spokesperson for Bradenton polce.

It's still not yet clear if either overdosed on fentanyl, but police say the tiniest amount of fentanyl can be deadly. It's 100 stronger than morphine. It's why officers say they have plenty of Narcan on hand not only to protect others but themselves.

"Unfortunately, with so many chemicals, drugs out on the streets, any one time could be deadly. And so you just don't know. You shouldn't be buying these. But if you are buying these, you really don't know what it is you're getting," Frameli said.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Detective Dalia Santana at 941-932-9355.