Man charged with child neglect

A 35-year-old Marathon man was arrested Thursday night after he was found asleep behind the wheel of a running pickup truck with two small children inside.

Jason Edward Solomon was charged with child neglect/endangerment.

Middle Keys Deputy William Daniels and Sgt. John Smith were called to 122th Street in Marathon at 6 p.m. regarding an unresponsive man inside a pickup truck. Upon arrival, Deputy Daniels spoke with the woman who called 911. She stated she was leaving the Community Cooperative Preschool when she saw a man, identified as Solomon, sleeping behind the wheel of a pickup truck in the parking lot. She saw two young children, ages 3 and 5, inside the truck as well. The children were crying and trying to wake Solomon. The woman stated she removed the two children, put them in her vehicle and called 911.

The children were not injured and were in the custody of their mother shortly thereafter.

Sgt. Smith turned the truck off. Solomon had a substance on his nostrils and on his face which led deputies and paramedics to believe he ingested narcotics. Paramedics used an anti-narcotic drug to revive Solomon. He was taken to the hospital.

Solomon told Deputy Daniels at the hospital that he crushed and snorted three Percocet pills. Solomon stated he remembered picking up the children and taking them to the pickup truck outside, but did not remember anything further.

Solomon was taken to jail after he was medically cleared at the hospital.

The Florida Department of Children and Families was notified of the incident.

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