Mom Gives Toddler Bong Hit [Video]
A mom accused of allowing her toddler son to take a bong hit is facing criminal charges. The act was captured on video, according to authorities in Centralia, Washington.
24-year-old Rachelle Braaten was arrested Friday and charged with unlawfully delivering a controlled substance to a minor and manufacturing marijuana. The toddler’s father has also been arrested.
Centralia authorities were alerted to the incident when they received an anonymous cell phone video. The footage allegedly showed Braaten briefly holding a lit marijuana water pipe to the mouth of her 22-month old toddler son.
On Friday, the Centralia police department’s anti-crime team served a warrant to Braaten’s Delaware Avenue home. During an authorized search of the residence, authorities reportedly discovered firearms and 40 growing marijuana plants.
Braaten was arrested along with her fiance, 25-year-old Tyler Lee, who was charged with three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and manufacturing marijuana.
According to authorities, Lee initially claimed to investigators that he was a medicinal marijuana user. However, following his arrest he reportedly admitted to police that he also distributed the marijuana to a dispensary for profit.
When confronted by police, the 25-year-old mom reportedly admitted to giving her toddler son a bong hit as shown in the cell phone video. She allegedly expressed her regret, calling the incident a “joke and stupid mistake that wasn’t really funny.”
You can watch raw footage of the cell phone video below:
While Braaten admits to encouraging her toddler son to take a bong hit, she reportedly stated that she feels “horrible” about the incident “because he’s two and he shouldn’t have known about that. He shouldn’t have that in his body.” Tyler Lee, the boy’s father, claims he was not present when the cell phone video was taken.
The 22-month-old boy and his 5-year-old brother were reportedly removed from the home and taken into the custody of Child Protective Services.
What do you think about the Washington mom who gave her toddler son a marijuana bong hit?
[Image via Shutterstock]
