These disturbing pictures show a man and woman allegedly overdosed on heroin , collapsed in their car with a toddler in the backseat.
The shocking images have been released by police in a bid to raise awareness of the drugs epidemic.
The pair were spotted driving erratically in the City of East Liverpool, Ohio, by officers before their vehicle came to a sudden stop near a school bus full of children, according to reports.
When an officer approached the vehicle, the driver James Acord appeared intoxicated with unintelligible speech and his head bobbing back and forth.
The 47-year-old claimed he was taking Rhonda Pasek, who was slumped over in the passenger seat, to a hospital .
When he tried to drive away the officer pulled the keys out of the ignition and spotted his four-year-old child in the back seat.
Police have now released disturbing images of the pair to counter the “strong grip” heroin has on their city and discourage users from taking drugs while looking after children.
A Facebook post accompanying the pictures said: “We are well aware that some may be offended by these images and for that we are truly sorry, but it is time that the non drug using public sees what we are now dealing with on a daily basis.
“The poison known as heroin has taken a strong grip on many communities not just ours, the difference is we are willing to fight this problem until it’s gone and if that means we offend a few people along the way we are prepared to deal with that.”
Paramedics treated the pair at the scene and they were then evaluated at a local hospital.
Acord later pleaded no contest to charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and endangering children.
He was sentenced to 180 days in jail for each while investigators dropped a third charge of slowing or stopping in a road.
The passenger was charged with endangering children, public intoxication and not wearing a seatbelt.
She pleaded not guilty and is being held on a $150,000 (£113,000) bond before a September court appearance.
Her young son has been taken into the care of social services.
Read police officer's statement in full...
On Wednesday September 7, 2016 at or about 1511hrs I was traveling southbound on St Clair Ave in my personal vehicle.
I was following a dark Ford Explorer with West Virginia registration 6ZV709.
The suspect vehicle was driving very erratic (sic) weaving back and forth in the lane while driving on the yellow center and back to the right edge of the roadway.
At Prospect Street an East Liverpool School Bus was in the process of discharging children.
The suspect vehicle began to brake hard and skidded to a stop.
The bus pulled away and the suspect vehicle remained in the roadway before slowing just drifting onto Prospect Street in an angle and stopping.
I made contact with the drive (sic) who was later identified as James Acord. I noted his head bobbing back and forth his speech was almost unintelligible.
I also noted pin point pupils. I inquired as to what was going on.
James Acord stated he was taking his front seat female passenger, who was identified as Rhonda Pasek to the hospital.
He then began to try to manipulate the gear shift. I had to reach in and turn the vehicle off and remove the keys.
I also noted a 4 year old male seated in a car seat behind the front seat passenger.
He was later identified as the son of Rhonda Pasek.
The driver eventually went completely unconscious. Rhonda Pasek was completely unconscious and turning blue.
I summoned an ambulance and attempted to keep her airway open.
Lifeteam EMS responded along with Patrolman Fred Flati and Patrolman Shawn Long.
I noted Lifeteam administered several rounds of a drug known as Narcan which is commonly used to reverse an opiate overdose.
Both occupants regained consciousness and were transported to East Liverpool City Hospital for evaluation.
A yellow folded up piece of paper was located on the right front passenger seat between Rhondas Legs.
It contained a small amount of a pink powdery substance.
The evidence was packaged and will be sent to the crime lab for analysis.
The vehicle was towed from the scene by First Class Towing.
A call was also placed to Columbiana County Children’s Services.
Lore Jones responded and assisted in placing the juvenile child.
Patrolman Long transported him to the East Liverpool Police Department.
Mr. Acord was charged accordingly with 4511.19A1A (OVI), 2919.22C1 (Endangering Children-OVI) 333.04 (Slowing Stopped in Roadway).
Rhonda Pasek was charged accordingly with 2919.22A (Endangering Children), (Seatbelt) 337.2 and (Public Intoxication) 2917.11B2.
They were both housed in the Columbiana County Jail pending their Thursday September 8, 2016 court appearance.
