Chicago detectives are investigating a video appearing to show a toddler smoking marijuana. NBC 5’s Phil Ponce reports.
Chicago detectives are investigating a video appearing to show a toddler smoking marijuana.
In the video, the toddler, who is wearing a diaper, is sitting on a chair smoking what appears to be a joint.
The person behind the camera is heard saying “smoke man” and “inhale” while making sounds to show the boy how to inhale the smoke.
The child puts the joint to his mouth at least twice in the video before the man says, “Let me hit that, OK?”
Community activist Andrew Holmes notified authorities of the video late Wednesday after a tipster showed it to him on social media. At the time he captured it, the video had received more than 500 likes on Facebook and 1,200 comments.
“This is sickening,” Holmes said. “This child needs help ASAP if he hasn’t had help already. It’s disturbing to hear the adult that was in the background to let them hit it and they’re telling the child to inhale.”
Chicago police said detectives with the Area South Special Victims unit are investigating the footage, but it’s not clear where the video was taken or when.
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A spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services could not confirm if the department will investigate the video. The Illinois Attorney General's office said it is not currently investigating the video.
"If anyone could recognize that child or know who that child is, don't be afraid to call the Chicago Police Department," Holmes said.
