Two arrested after boy's Methadone death

Mar 17 2008

TWO men have been arrested after the death of a two-year-old boy who is thought to have swallowed an overdose of methadone.

West Midlands Police said the men had been freed on bail pending further inquiries into the death of Brandon Davis, who died at a Birmingham hospital last Thursday.

Brandon and two other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were taken to hospital last Tuesday from an address in south Birmingham.

A police spokesman said two men, aged 30 and 33, had been arrested after officers were called to an address West Midlands Ambulance Service at 10.10am on March 11.

"Three children were taken to hospital after consuming what’s believed to be a harmful substance, and the two-year-old later died on March 13," the spokesman added.

A three-year-old boy remains in a stable condition, while the four-month-old is thought to be recovering.

The 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of neglect and the 33-year-old on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug.

In a statement, Birmingham social services said it was "saddened" by the death and was co-operating with police enquiries.

"Following the conclusion of any legal proceedings there will be a serious case review completed by the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board," a council spokesman said.

Methadone is given to heroin addicts to help wean them off their addiction to the drug.

It is said to be less addictive than heroin and offsets the withdrawal symptoms addicts feel.