Deputies: Toddler sickened after eating St. Petersburg man's synthetic marijuana

A St. Petersburg man is facing charges after deputies say a 3-year-old girl took synthetic marijuana from his pocket and ate it.

Christopher L. Clark, 45, faces charges of child neglect in connection with the incident, which happened Saturday.

According to deputies, Clark obtained synthetic marijuana, also known as Spice, and put it in his pocket, and at some point Saturday evening, the little girl took the drug from his pocket and ate it. Deputies said they don't know how much she ate at this point.

Detectives say the girl became progressively ill throughout the night, at one point vomiting. By Sunday morning, she was lethargic and unresponsive.

Clark called 911 Sunday morning, and the girl was taken by ambulance to All Children's Hospital to receive treatment for life-threatening injuries, deputies said.

Dr. Rachel Dawkins, who is the medical director for the hospital's pediatric clinic, said spice can cause strokes, heart attacks and seizures, and when it comes to children, that could mean permanent damage.

“As a child’s brain develops and we’re learning things like walking, talking, eating, if something interferes with that, that can be life-altering for the process," she said.

Detectives were summoned to the hospital and started investigating. They said Clark admitted to purchasing the synthetic marijuana, and that he knew the girl had eaten the drug.

Deputies said they learned Clark had smoked Spice at least twice while the girl was in his care and custody.

Clark was taken into custody and transported to the Pinellas County Jail without further incident. His bond was set at $20,000. He has been ordered to have no contact with the child.

Detectives say the child is expected to survive.

The investigation continues.

This story was originally published January 12, 2016 at 7:47 AM with the headline "Deputies: Toddler sickened after eating St. Petersburg man's synthetic marijuana."