2-year-old reported missing found with cocaine in system

By Matt Pordum (contact)

Friday, May 28, 2004 | 11:24 a.m.

A 2-year-old child who was reported missing by his mother on May 22 and later found two days later being pushed in a stroller by his father was found to have cocaine in his system, according to a Metro Police arrest report.

Upon noticing "red marks" on the legs of the boy and a high heart rate, Metro Officer Samuel Underwood took the child to University Medical Center for tests.

After conducting a urinalysis on the child, the test came back positive for having cocaine in his system, according to the report.

After he was cleaned up and examined by doctors at UMC, he was turned over to Child Protective Services, not the mother.

The father, Ian Held, 28, was arrested on seven outstanding traffic warrants and charges of possession of narcotics paraphernalia, child endangerment and child abuse. There were no abduction charges filed, police said.

Ian Held admitted to smoking crack cocaine from May 22 straight through May 24. After inspecting the stroller that the boy was sleeping in for weapons, Underwood found a glass pipe, according to the report.

Ian Held told the officer he had smoked crack cocaine earlier in the day "but did not know where his pipe was."

Metro Missing Persons Lt. Brad Simpson said Held is the boy's biological father and the circumstances surrounding the child being taken by the man did not amount to abduction.

Police determined that endangerment and abuse were the appropriate charges based on the findings of their investigation, according to the report.

The endangerment charge stems from the fact that Ian Held was alleged to have been wandering around downtown Las Vegas aimlessly while high on narcotics.

The abuse charge, police said, stems from the apparent lack of available food for the child during the time he was missing and doctors at the University Medical Center, where the child was taken, finding evidence of malnutrition.

It remains unclear whether the presence of cocaine in the boy's system will bring more charges on Ian Held.

The Helds were found at 1:10 a.m. on May 24 by Underwood, who recognized the man pushing the stroller from photographs broadcast on television when the child was reported missing, according to the report.

Held was last seen early Saturday morning leaving the family's residence at 6300 W. Tropicana Ave. with his father, police said.

The dad and the boy had left the child's mother, Melissa Wilton, at a bus stop on Flamingo Road and Jones Boulevard, police said.

The mother told police Held might be panhandling in downtown Las Vegas. Police say they are looking into whether the child was used to attract donations. No Amber Alert was issued because there was no indication of foul play, police said.

Child Protective Services is currently investigating safety concerns, and assessing both parents. Under state law Child Protective Services can not discuss the held case specifically.