Buckeye Police: Dad, girlfriend arrested after child is exposed to drug fumes

BUCKEYE, Ariz. (FOX 10) -- Officials with Buckeye Police say a 10-year-old's father, along with the father's girlfriend, are arrested after the child was exposed to drug fumes.

According to a statement, the principal at Sundance Elementary notified Buckeye Police on Thursday about a possible medical issue with the child, who was complaining of a hurting heart and shortness of breath. Fire officials responded, and took the child to a hospital. The child later told officers that his dad and his dad's girlfriend were smoking drugs in the car before school. The child also said they were homeless, lived in the car, and that this kind of activity happened all the time.

The child's father, according to Buckeye Police, has since been identified as 49-year-old Michael R. Nash. Meanwhile, the girlfriend has been identified as 34-year-old Ashley M. Mahaney. Both were found Thursday afternoon in a car described by the child. Nash later admitted to smoking illegal narcotics in the enclosed car before taking his child to school. Officers found a number of drug paraphernalia inside the car, as well as a bag of white, crystallized substance that came back positive for meth in a field test.

Police officials say both Nash and Mahaney have been booked into the 4th Avenue Jail for a number of felony child abuse and drug charges. In addition, officers have determined that Mahaney has a felony warrant out for her arrest for a prior child abuse case. The child has since been released from the hospital, and turned over to DCS.