Officers found the two men in the front seat of the SUV unconscious. They were able to rouse the 29-year-old driver, Keith Pugh, the child’s stepfather, but were unable to find a pulse or detect any breathing from the passenger.
There were several cans of Budweiser and a bottle of Jim Beam in the car. In the passenger’s lap was a hypodermic needle and an empty gel capsule laying on a cigarette pack. Police later found 0.27 grams of what appeared to be heroin in the SUV.
Pugh told police the passenger, 30-year-old Jared Shoup, had talked about suicide. Pugh said Shoup was depressed. Shoup was declared dead at the scene.
Pugh told police he and Shoup were driving from West Carrollton to Shoup’s residence — the driver’s stepson in the back seat — when they pulled into the hotel parking lot.
Children’s Services was called to the scene, and the case worker reported the child’s mother had a case pending through Butler County Children’s Services. The child’s father was contacted, came to the scene and picked up his son.
Pugh was taken to the county lockup and had an initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon on misdemeanor charges of child endangering and permitting drug abuse.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2290 or dpage@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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