PHILADELPHIA – A 5-year-old has been removed from his school and placed in foster care after his teacher found eight bags of heroin in the kindergartner’s pocket.
The incident prompted a letter home Tuesday to parents whose children attend Richmond Elementary School.
The letter from Principal Anthony Ciampoli did not explain why school officials waited so long to tell parents about the incident, which occurred Oct. 25.
The incident is under investigation, and the 5-year-old’s mother could be charged, police spokesman Inspector William Colarulo said.
Neither the child nor any of his classmates at the school, which has 730 students, was harmed by the drug, said schools spokesman Fernando Galliard.
The boy and his three siblings were turned over to the city’s Department of Human Services.
DHS spokesman Ted Qualli on Tuesday said the four children were in the temporary custody of the city agency.
“At this time, we are looking to identify relatives that may be appropriate to take care of the children pending the outcome of our investigation,” Qualli said.
A police source said that the child’s home was in deplorable condition and that used drug paraphernalia had been found inside. The source said the boy found the packets of heroin under his mother’s bed.
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