Port Hueneme toddler in protective custody after found crawling in syringes

A little boy is in protective custody after police said he was found crawling near a glass meth pipe and used syringes in his parent’s bedroom as they slept.

Police in Port Hueneme said they found the toddler while conducting a probation search of a residence in the 1500 block of North 7th place at 9 a.m. on May 18. The parents, Noe Moreira, 29 and his girlfriend Nichole De La Cerda, 23, were both on probation for narcotic and theft convictions.

Upon entry of the residence, the two were found asleep in their room with their 2-year-old son crawling on the floor next to the bed and a meth pipe. The officers said there was also an opened drawer within the child’s reach full of used syringes for heroin use. At least two of the syringes did not have safety caps, exposing the needles, according to police.

Both Moreira and De La Cerda were arrested for being under the influence of narcotics, possession of narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia, and felony child endangerment.

The two were booked into the Ventura County jail with bail set at $50,000. And the child was placed in the custody of Children’s Family Services.