Dad found passed out in truck with 2-year-old son, charged with child neglect and dealing drugs

Maryland State Police arrested a St. Mary’s County man on Sunday after he was found passed out in a truck with drugs while his two-year-old son was in the vehicle with him.

Michael Gohl, 35, of Hollywood, Maryland, was charged with possession of drugs with intent to distribute and child neglect. He was taken to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center, where he is waiting to appear before a court commissioner.

Shortly after 6 p.m. on Sunday, a trooper from the Leonardtown Barrack responded to a request for a child welfare check. According to investigators, the mother of the suspect’s son contacted police after her son video chatted her apparently upset and crying while inside of Gohl’s truck.

The mother told troopers that the child was unable to provide any information on their location. A phone ping was conducted on Gohl’s phone, which revealed the phone was in the area of Forest Park Road in Lexington Park. Several police units responded to the area and began to actively search for the truck.

A trooper located the vehicle and observed two males passed out inside of it. The trooper then saw the child, who was in the back seat of the truck screaming and crying, and immediately removed him from the vehicle.  Gohl was arrested at the scene.

A search of the vehicle revealed 23 capsules containing suspected heroin, U.S. currency and several bags containing suspected marijuana, totaling 889 grams. Investigators also located a suspected drug /price ledger. The other male passenger in the truck, Zackery Taylor Ricker, 23, was charged with possession of marijuana. He was issued a civil citation and released at the scene.

The child was examined by EMS personnel and returned safely to his mother. The investigation is ongoing.

(Source: Maryland State Police)

~ Posted by: Richard Webster, Ace News Today   /   Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter