Young son passes out on ATV after dad is accused of giving him laughing gas, AZ cops say

A father was arrested after being accused of giving his two sons laughing gas, Arizona officials said.

On June 4, Yavapai County deputies received reports from the man’s ex that he’d been inhaling laughing gas with their 12-year-old and 13-year-old sons, according to a Facebook post by the sheriff’s office.

After the woman’s 16-year-old daughter said she saw a video taken by one of the boys showing them inhaling the gas from a balloon with their dad, she told the mother, according to deputies.

The boys were on visitation with their father, officials said.

Deputies didn’t identify the man.

The mom and daughter confronted the man, who said he’d given the boys laughing gas, deputies said.

During interviews with the mom and children, officers learned the gas was inhaled repeatedly and continuously for several hours while the dad took them four-wheeling, officials said.

That’s when one of the boys passed out and was not given medical attention, officials said.

Deputies didn’t provide details on the boys’ current health.

Deputies found the man in Cornville and searched his home, finding large canisters of nitrous oxide and balloons, officials said.

He was arrested on charges of child abuse endangerment, possession of vapor-releasing substance containing toxic substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, furnishing harmful items to minors, permitting life health or morals to be imperiled by neglect, abuse or immoral association and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, officers said.

Cornville is about a 100-mile drive north of Phoenix.

This story was originally published June 11, 2024 at 12:59 PM with the headline "Young son passes out on ATV after dad is accused of giving him laughing gas, AZ cops say."