2-year-old child found with high alcohol content in their blood; Monroe man arrested

All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

OUACHITA PARISH, La. ( KTVE/KARD )– On April 19, 2024, the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Oschner Hospital in Monroe, La. in reference to a two-year-old child having a very high alcohol content in his blood.

According to authorities, hospital staff stated the child weighed 12.2 Kg and had a blood alcohol content of .236g%. Deputies spoke to the child’s mother who stated that the child was left with her brother, Deon Burns, at Cotton Wood Apartments while she was at work during the day.

According to deputies, the child’s mother stated that she immediately observed her child unsteady on his feet, had a swollen face, and had blood coming from his mouth and nose upon returning home. Due to her observation, she brought him to the hospital to be evaluated, at which time she learned of the alcohol content in his blood.

Due to the incident, investigators got involved, and while they were en route to the hospital, officials located Burns on the 2000 block of Standfier Avenue. According to deputies, they transported Burns to the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office for questioning. Investigators read Burns his Rights per Miranda that he allegedly signed stating he understood and waived his rights.

According to authorities, Burns allegedly said that his sister and mother left the child in his care around 6 AM to 7 AM, and they returned between the hours of 2 PM and 4 PM. Burns allegedly stated that he was drinking Kentucky Dale Whiskey and Natty Daddy while he was caring for the child. According to deputies, Burns then stated that after lunch the child and himself were allegedly in bed together taking a nap while leaving the alcohol on a bedside table.

Burns also allegedly stated that he didn’t notice any alcohol missing when he awoke and that the child had a bloody nose due to allegedly running into the bedroom door before taking a nap. According to deputies, Burns claimed he did not give the child any alcoholic beverages and that the child allegedly did not touch his alcohol.

After obtaining Burns’s testimony, he was transported to the Ouachita Correctional Center where he was charged with Second-Degree Cruelty to Juveniles.

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