Enola woman faces felony child endangerment after child eats THC gummy: police

Lauren Mateo's mugshot (Courtesy of East Pennsboro Police Department)

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — A woman is being charged after a juvenile in her care reportedly ingested a THC gummy and began convulsing back in November, according to release and documentation from East Pennsboro police.

East Pennsboro police say they were dispatched to the home on Adams Street on November 5 for the overdose of a two-year-old.

When they arrived, the child had already been taken away in an ambulance, according to charging documents. However, 36-year-old Lauren Mateo of Enola was still on the scene, according to officers.

Mateo allegedly told officers that she was in her bed while the child was playing on the floor while watching television. She realized the child had put something in their mouth, causing the child's hand to become sticky, according to the criminal affidavit.

Mateo reportedly told police that she could tell by the odor of the sticky substance that it was a 50mg THC gummy, police said. Police went on to say she claimed she only had one left in her home, which was tucked away in the bottom drawer of a nightstand. The charging documents detail that Mateo looked in said drawer to see if it was there, but stated that it was gone, indicating that must be what the child had ingested.

The court documents allege Mateo was unsure what to do at first, so after cleaning up the child, she laid with the child. After the consumption of the gummy, Mateo noticed the child was starting to turn pale, lethargic and started to have convulsions similar to a seizure, according to police.

Mateo immediately called EMS, according to the charging documents. Police allege Mateo did not have a prescription for the THC gummies, meaning they were allegedly in her possession illegally.

Mateo was charged with felony endangering the welfare of children.

She is presumed innocent until proven guilty.