Akron police: 5-year-old calls 911 after mom overdoses on heroin

AKRON, Ohio - Just after 11 p.m. on Jan. 27, an Akron police dispatcher answers a call for help from a crying 5-year-old boy.

Boy: "I need a doctor because my mom's on the floor. I can't wake her up."
Dispatcher: "How old is your mommy?
Boy: "I don't now, but she's not waking up. I was trying to wake her up and the baby's crying and I was crying my head off."

During the nine minute recording, brave little Austin just wants to figure out why his mom is "sleeping" and "won't wake up." He's also concerned about his 2-month-old brother and how to make him stop crying.

Boy: "Are you a doctor?"
Dispatcher: "No, honey, but I'm going to get someone out to help you. I want you to stay on the phone with me. How long has your mommy been sleeping?"
Boy: "I don't know."
Dispatcher: "She's been like that for a couple hours?"
Boy: "Yeah."
Dispatcher: "Is that your baby brother or sister screaming?"
Boy: "Yeah, I can't make him a bottle, I don't know how."

Austin tells the dispatcher he found a bottle, but the formula "doesn't look like it's supposed to."

WEB EXTRA: Click play button to hear the 5-year-old's 911 call

Boy: "I was telling him to wake up and I was so tired. I'm afraid I'm going to stay up all night."
Dispatcher: "Oh honey, you're not going to stay up all night. We're going to get someone to help you. You're doing so great right now. I'm so proud of you...You are being a great helper. Do you like your baby brother?
Boy: "Yes. His name is Aiden."

Austin shakes the bottle again, as the dispatcher tells him sometimes the formula just gets stuck.

Boy: "Can you come here? I want to show you what the bottle looks like because my mom's laying on the floor. She's not waking up somehow...I was shaking (the bottle) and hoping it looked like milk, but it didn't."
Dispatcher: "I'm so proud of you and I'm sure your mommy is proud of you too for being such a good helper."

Then, a knock at the door. It's the Akron Fire Department. Austin puts the phone down and tells them his mom is lying on her side on the kitchen floor and "she won't wake up."

While EMS officials wake up Austin's mother, Tiffany, one officer changes the 2-month-old's diaper and gives him a bottle.

Austin told the paramedics he didn't see his mom since dinner when he had a bowl of cereal. At some point, he began watching a movie when something scared him and he went looking for his mom in the house. That's when he found her on the kitchen floor and called 911.

Officers said they found a syringe and two spoons on the bathroom counter, with burn marks and drug residue on the silverware. Officers also found a syringe on Tiffany's bedroom dresser, all in plain sight and reach of Austin.

Tiffany had slurred speech, was incoherent and unable to walk when help arrived, police said. After several minutes, EMS escorted her out of the home and into an ambulance, questioning her about overdosing on drugs.

Initially, Tiffany told police she took a sleeping pill that knocked her out. Authorities also reported Tiffany said  friends were over earlier who were doing heroin. After a few more questions, and police noticing marks on Tiffany's arms, authorities said she admitted to shooting up heroin the night before.

The 2-month-old and Austin were then turned over to Summit County Children Services, an organization that protects abused and neglected children. Austin is now living with his grandmother.

Tiffany was taken to Akron General Medical Center that night and was later arrested. She's been charged with child endangering, possessing drug abuse instruments and drug paraphernalia.