Chicago detectives are currently investigating a 12-second video which appears to show a toddler smoking weed.
The young child – who is only dressed in a nappy – is seen sitting on a children’s chair and is apparently holding a joint in their hand. He then puts it to his mouth before a plume of smoke comes out.
A bloke off-camera then tells the child to “smoke bro, inhale it”, before instructing him to “do this” and is heard making a deep inhale. This is when the child puffs again at the cigarette.
The man then says “Let me hit that, ok?” just before the video cuts out.
The Area South Detectives Special Victims Unit are now investigating the video and no arrests have yet been made. A spokesperson said that the investigation is ‘open and ongoing’.
Community activist Andrew Holmes handed over the video to police on Wednesday night and then provided the clip to NBC Chicago.
According to NBC, Holmes had retrieved the video from Facebook and it had amassed more than 500 likes and 1,200 comments. He described the video as ‘sickening’.
Since the video was uploaded to YouTube it’s received a huge backlash from viewers, with one user saying: “I can’t believe there are people like this in charge of a child’s life.” Whilst another added: “#DumbFuck ……when is Enough going to be Enough! Neglect. Child Endangerment.”
Anyone who may recognize the child or the man’s voice are urged to contact the Chicago Police Department.
If this turns out to be true, I’d lose a fair bit of faith in humanity…