Infant overdoses after man cleaned cocaine syringes in 'baby water' jug: Police

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A 25-year-old Milwaukee man has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of neglecting a child – consequence is great bodily harm. The accused, Versean Anderson, is suspected of causing the drug overdose of a 5-week-old child.

According to the criminal complaint, officers responded to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin for a child neglect complaint. A doctor indicated to them that a 5-week-old child “had been admitted to St. Luke's Medical Center and was in respiratory failure.” A urinalysis found both opioids and cocaine in the child's system. While at St. Luke's, hospital personnel administered two doses of Narcan on the baby. The child was then transported to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

When officers spoke to Anderson at the home where the incident initially happened, he “denied that he had used drugs and attributed the needles and other drug related items (in the home) to his brother ... and two of his friends that he knows are into drugs.” However, Anderson later told police a friend had come over on May 6 -- and that “he had crushed up a Percocet pill and snorted it.” The friend “had brought syringes with him that he cleaned using a gallon jug of 'baby water.'” The two then purchased cocaine from the friend's dealer, the complaint says. After they injected the cocaine, the complaint indicates the pair “cleaned their syringes in the gallon bottle of water located on the kitchen table.” Again, Anderson referred to the jug of water as “baby water.”

After speaking with the baby's mother, she confirmed she had “used the gallon jug of 'baby water' on the kitchen table to make a bottle” for the baby on the evening of May 6.