Deputies find small kids, heroin during I-90 stop

By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

January 07, 2009 07:58 pm

— AUSTINBURG — Two children, ages 2 years old and 5 months old, were passengers in a vehicle driven by a Pennsylvania man who admitted he injected heroin less than two hours earlier, Ashtabula County sheriff’s deputies said.
The driver and two other adults, including the children’s mother, were arrested by deputies after the traffic stop on Interstate 90 early Wednesday morning.
Deputies charged the driver, Dustin Platt, 28, of Milan, Pa., with operating a motor vehicle under the influence and endangering children. The mother, Rachel Sutton, 25, of Cleveland, was charged with endangering, possession of drugs and possession of drug abuse instruments, deputies said. Another passenger, Damien Tribe, 35, of Cleveland, also was charged with endangering and possession of drugs and drug abuse instruments, deputies said.
The incident began at 2:21 a.m., when a deputy patrolling I-90 saw an eastbound vehicle travel over marked lanes a short distance west of Route 45. The occupants acted nervous when questioned by the deputy, according to a report.
The children were not in restraints or car seats, deputies said.
A short time later, deputies and an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper discovered a black case hidden behind the dashboard, according to the report. Inside the case were syringes, a spoon, cotton balls and foil containing heroin, deputies said.
Tribe told deputies he owned the case. Later, Sutton pulled another case containing drug items from inside a baby’s diaper bag, deputies said.
Platt admitted he injected heroin into his system in Cleveland around 12:30 a.m., less than two hours from the time of the traffic stop, deputies said.