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NJ Police: Boy Unknowingly Shares Cocaine With Kids

Saturday, Sep 19, 2009 | Updated 7:11 PM EST

Small bags of cocaine were found in the boy's pockets.

New Jersey police said a 4-year-old boy shared cocaine with his friends at day care because his father told him it was candy.

Newark police said 25-year-old Shaheed Wright of East Orange put several baggies of cocaine inside his son's jacket after police nearly caught him with it. The boy shared the drugs with three other 4-year-olds at his day care center Friday.

A teacher spotted a girl with a baggie in her mouth and called authorities after seeing the white powdery substance.

The children were taken to a hospital, but none were injured. Police found more baggies of cocaine after searching the boy's pockets.

Wright, who was being held at the Essex County Jail on $400,000 bail, was charged with four counts of child endangerment and drug offenses. He is not listed in the phone book, and police do not know if he has retained a lawyer.