A Department of Children and Families spokesperson said the agency is hopeful a 5-year-old boy will recover after he tested positive for cocaine and oxycodone.
Atlantic Beach Police arrested Kimberly Perez on Monday.
Perez faces a child neglect charge.
She was released from jail just before noon on Tuesday.
MORE: Jacksonville woman arrested after 5-year-old child ingests cocaine
While the boy was at the Baptist Health emergency room, the police report said Perez told a DCF worker she needed to go get something, and then never came back.
Kimberly Perez faces charges after investigators say she allowed a 5-year-old to consume cocaine and hydrocodone. Her rap sheet shows multiple drug convictions. A police report also accuses her of trying to smuggle contraband into jail. I'm live at 5 on CBS47 @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/dNkSlUTaZF
— Jenna Bourne (@jennabourneWTSP) February 27, 2018
Action News Jax went to Perez’s home to get her side of the story. A man inside did not want to talk.
“It’s not good. You know, there’s a lot of children in this neighborhood,” said Pete Fore, the landlord of a home across the street from Perez.
“It’s not good. You know, there’s a lot of children in this neighborhood.” This landlord across the street was disturbed to hear Kimberly Perez was arrested on Monday. Police say a 5-year-old boy tested positive for cocaine & oxycodone. I'm live at 5 on CBS47 @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/q0Ny51D85T
— Jenna Bourne (@jennabourneWTSP) February 27, 2018
DCF spokesman John Harrell said the agency is investigating the boy was exposed to the drugs.
“Children don’t necessarily have the judgment to say, ‘Well, I’m not going to eat it,’ or something. Or, ‘It tastes bad.’ They’ll take it anyway. So, it’s really up to the adults to protect children so that that can’t happen,” said Jacksonville Child Protection Team chief Dr. Randy Alexander.
Alexander said this case is a good reminder for all families to make sure even legal, prescribed medications are kept locked up and out of kids’ reach.
Duval County court records show seven criminal cases against Perez, including multiple drug convictions.
A 2016 police report said, when Perez arrived at the jail, a search revealed she was trying to conceal a pill bottle and a needle inside her body.
#AtlanticBeach woman is back out of jail after getting arrested yesterday for child neglect. Police report says a 5-year-old boy was taken to emergency room, tested positive for cocaine and oxycodone. What happened when I showed up at her house, live at 5 on CBS47 @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/nOcRW7Aedh
— Jenna Bourne (@jennabourneWTSP) February 27, 2018
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