VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A terrified 8-year-old boy called 911 Tuesday afternoon to report that his father would not wake up, leading to the arrest of a Volusia County man now facing child endangerment charges.
According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the boy dialed for help from inside their Edgewater home after his father, 44-year-old Daniel Johnson, became unresponsive from an apparent drug overdose.
In the 911 recording released by the sheriff’s office, the child can be heard pleading for help.
“9-1-1, what is the address of your emergency?” the dispatcher asks.
“My dad won’t wake up,” the boy replies.
When asked his age, he answers, “Eight.”
Sheriff Mike Chitwood said the situation was “unthinkable,” noting that Johnson had instructed his son earlier in the day to administer Narcan if he overdosed while using multiple illegal drugs.
In the call, the child tells the dispatcher he tried to follow those instructions.
“My dad told me to use the thing … if he didn’t wake up, and save him, but nothing happened,” he says.
Deputies say needles and other illicit drugs, including fentanyl and heroin, were found near Johnson before he was taken to a hospital and later booked into jail.
Chitwood said the case highlights the trauma the boy has endured, noting the child’s mother also died from a drug overdose.
“Dad trained him to be his eyes and ears if he overdosed,” Chitwood said. “Think about how sick and twisted that is.”
The sheriff added that members of his agency are working to do “something special” for the child as he recovers from the ordeal.
Court records show Johnson remains in custody on charges of child endangerment and possession of drug paraphernalia.