Overview
- A 2-year-old became sleepy and struggled to breathe on Monday, July 20, and EMS gave two doses of naloxone that revived the child before transfer to Cooper University Hospital where preliminary blood tests were positive for cocaine.
- Authorities arrested 39-year-old Alexander T. Moles on July 21 and charged him with endangering the welfare of a child, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of prescription legend drugs; he was released with conditions after a detention hearing.
- A judge-ordered search of the Wildwood Airbnb produced a pill, tinfoil packets labeled “tapentadol hydrochloride,” a clear bag of white powder, and short plastic straws, which prosecutors cite as on-scene evidence.
- Naloxone reverses opioid effects, so investigators note the presence of tapentadol — a prescription opioid — among the seized items even though preliminary testing also found cocaine, and confirmatory forensic tests are likely to follow.
- The Wildwood Police Department and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit are conducting a joint, active investigation that will determine charges and next steps for the toddler’s family and for possible criminal prosecution.