Lothian Couple Arrested After Their Infant Nearly Dies From Drug Overdose, Anne Arundel County Police Say

The parents of an infant baby were recently arrested about two months after their child nearly died from a drug overdose in Lothian, county police department officials said this morning.  

On Thursday, November 12, 2020, officers responded to an address located on Jaguar Drive in reference to a sick child. Prior to the officers' arrival, Anne Arundel County Fire personnel were treating the victim, who was determined to be a 10-month old baby boy. A preliminary investigation indicated that the baby was having difficulty breathing and was becoming unresponsive. First responders then began providing medical care after life saving measures were implemented.

It was later determined the child may have ingested some form of an opioid causing him to suffer respiratory distress. Emergency medical personnel administered two doses of Narcan to the baby and noticed he began to improve medically.  The child was transported to an area hospital and was at that time expected to make a full recovery.

The child's parents were positively identified as Matthew Eric Joiner Sr., a 38-year-old-male and Shelby Renee Butler, a 23-year-old-female, both of Lothian. As a result of the incident and a follow up investigation, child abuse detectives, working in conjunction with the Anne Arundel County State's Attorney's office, charged the parents with child neglect and reckless endangerment.