By Associated Press - Friday, May 23, 2014

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) - Deputies say a 3-year-old boy was locked outside a Lakeland home for more than an hour while the couple taking care of him smoked marijuana and inhaled nitrous oxide.

Neighbors called the Polk County Sheriff’s Office after hearing the toddler crying on Wednesday evening. The neighbors took care of the boy until authorities arrived.

The Ledger of Lakeland (https://bit.ly/RZBG1c ) reports deputies banged on the door and windows for about 15 minutes before the couple opened the door. They say a cloud of smoke that smelled like marijuana billowed outside when the door opened.

An arrest report says the couple told deputies they were using drugs and then took a nap while leaving the boy unsupervised. It wasn’t clear whether the child belongs to the couple or whether they were babysitting.

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Information from: The Ledger (Lakeland, Fla.), https://www.theledger.com

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