Cops: Infant had cocaine in its system

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Police have charged an Austin couple with child endangerment, eight months after finding that their young baby had traces of cocaine in its system.

The 3-month-old baby was been removed from its home in July 2009 after police became concerned for the child's safety. After the infant was removed from the home, CPS tested the infant's hair for narcotics and found traces of cocaine.

Police first responded to the home in Northeast Austin because of a disturbance. The residents of the home, Patricia Ravelos, 23, and Amado Ravelos, 26, had their child in their care at that time.

Officers immediately realized both Ravelos were addicted to crack while caring for their child, they said. Fearing for the child's safety, CPS officers took custody of the child and left the child with its grandmother.

CPS tested the child for narcotics in August 2009 and found traces of cocaine - about 365,108 pico grams per milligram of hair. The agency found that if the hair reached that total, then the cocaine usage in a full-grown adult would have to be a chronic user of cocaine.

In an interview in January 2010, both said they were staying at an EconoLodge after receiving a $175,000 settlement from an auto/pedestrian accident. They claimed they smoked about $5,000 worth of crack a week during the first couple months of the child's life. Amado said that for days, crack-cocaine smoke would fill the room.

On March 2, a doctor with the American Board of Pediatrics said the child is facing numerous potential adverse effects as the result of being subjected to passive cocaine exposure.

Patricia is currently in state jail on an unrelated charge. Amado is not in custody and police are still looking for him. Both parents are charged with endangering a child.