Berkeley resident, Sayyadina Thomas, was charged Wednesday with felony child abuse for allegedly shoving meth into a 2-year-old boy’s mouth at People’s Park in Berkeley in an attempt to hide the dangerous street drug. The young boy was an innocent bystander who did not know Thomas and was simply trying to enjoy a day at the park accompanied by a nanny.
Thomas, 38, has two prior felony convictions and now faces a felony charge of having controlled substances on school grounds for allegedly selling or giving away methamphetamine to another minor at People’s Park at 2556 Haste St. on Monday at a time when minors were present and using the facilities there.
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University of California at Berkeley police Detective Jon Caires noted in a probable cause statement that a female nanny was with the 2-year-old boy and a 3-year-old boy at a play structure inside the park when Thomas “shoved an unknown substance into the mouth of the 2-year-old boy she was watching.”
Thomas was a stranger to the nanny and the two young boys and “her actions were unprovoked,” Caires wrote.
Caires wrote that he contacted Thomas and found out that she was on probation for a 2015 conviction for resisting a police officer and causing serious bodily injury.
Thomas later admitted to EMS responders that the substance she put into the 2-year-old boy’s mouth was in-fact methamphetamine. The boy was transported to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, where he is said to be recovering.
Caires arrested Thomas on suspicion of attempted murder but the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office decided to charge her with the lesser offense of child abuse.
Thomas was transferred to Santa Rita Jail after she was treated at the psychiatric facility.