Newborn's Father Accused Of Selling Heroin In Maternity Ward Room
Follow KDKA-TV: Facebook | Twitter
GREENSBURG, Pa. (KDKA/AP) - The father of a newborn baby girl is behind bars after police say he sold heroin from his girlfriend's maternity ward room at a Westmoreland County hospital.
Cody Hulse, 25, of Latrobe, is charged with drug and drug paraphernalia possession, heroin delivery and endangering the welfare of a child. He was arraigned Friday on those counts. But just hours before he was arrested on Thursday, his girlfriend gave birth to their baby.
According to the criminal complaint, Greensburg Police busted Hulse after a Thursday night traffic stop on North Main Street. The occupants told police they had just bought the drugs while visiting Hulse at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital.
Police say they contacted hospital security who asked the maternity ward nurses to remove the newborn from Hulse and his girlfriend's room.
Officers then confronted Hulse, who acknowledged selling the drugs, the criminal complaint reports.
Police took Hulse into custody, and while searching him found 34 bags of suspected heroin, hypodermic needles, other drug paraphernalia and empty stamp bags in a black, zip bag in his pants pocket.
Officers say they also found a bag of heroin in Hulse's wallet, and a hypodermic needle in Hulse's gym bag in the hospital room.
In a statement, Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital officials said they appreciated the efforts of Greensburg Police. It read in part, "Hospital security personnel work cooperatively with local and state police on an ongoing basis to help insure healthcare is delivered in a safe environment for patients, visitors, and employees."
Police say Hulse's girlfriend, the baby's mother, told them she didn't know about the drug deals.
Reacting to the arrest, Dorothy Knupp, of Greensburg, said, "I feel sorry for the newborn baby. It's disgusting."
Diane Lecocq, of Lower Burrell, was dumbfounded, saying, "I can't believe that. Why? I mean, you're in a hospital, what makes you think you can get away with it."
Her husband, David, said, "Put him in jail, keep him in jail, and throw away the key."
Hulse was taken to the Westmoreland County Prison. His bond was set at $100,000.
And, if he gets out of jail, the judge ordered him not to have contact with his newborn baby.
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
