Two from Elk County charged after toddler swallows cannabis

RIDGWAY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Two people from Ridgway are facing criminal charges after a toddler allegedly digested cannabis while in their care.

Officers with the Ridgway Boro Police Department responded to a call on the 700 block of Front Street March 30 for a two year old “not acting like their self.” Police said that when they arrived on scene, they found the child sitting on the living room couch, conscious and breathing, but looking dazed and pale. Emilie Corinne Nissel, 30, and Shawn James Gerg, 33, told police that the child and her siblings had been playing outside when she fell on the sidewalk and bumped her head.

EMS with Ridgway Ambulance assessed the child and decided to transport her to Penn Highlands Elk for care and observation under suspicions of injury from falling, a possible medical issue or a possible seizure.

Hours later, around 9 p.m., officers received a phone call from a relative of the child, informing them that the child was being taken by helicopter to Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital after medical staff at Penn Highlands Elk discovered she had allegedly digested cannabis, according to a criminal complaint.

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Nissel and Gerg are both facing one felony count of endangering the welfare of a child. Gerg is in the custody of Elk County Prison, unable to post $15,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing June 19. Nissel’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 12.

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