OROVILLE, CA (MPG) - Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) deputies were dispatched to assist CAL FIRE with a medical call involving a three-year-old child. Deputies arrived at the intersection of Oroville-Bangor Highway and Swedes Flat Road and contacted CAL FIRE personnel and Joseph Webb of Bangor, 42. Webb told deputies his three-year-old step-child had ingested methamphetamine water. Deputies determined Webb resided with Alisha Crandell of Bangor, 38, in the 300 block of North Stoney Oaks Loop, Bangor.

The child was transported to Oroville Hospital and then was flown by helicopter to a hospital in the Sacramento area. Initial tests conducted by medical staff indicated the child had ingested methamphetamine. The child is currently receiving medical care at the Sacramento area hospital.

Deputies determined Webb, Crandell, and their children were residing in a travel trailer at the aforementioned property. Detectives and deputies responded to Webb’s residence and contacted several people to include Crandell and Anita Morgan of Bangor, 49, and two children. Morgan was contacted in a stolen vehicle and was placed under arrest for felony vehicle theft. The overall condition of the property was deplorable.

A search warrant was obtained for the property and detectives interviewed Webb and Crandell. Webb and Crandell both admitted their three-year-old child ingested methamphetamine water that Webb and Crandell had removed from their “water bong,” which Webb and Crandell were using to smoke methamphetamine.

After the child ingested the methamphetamine, Webb admitted he did not immediately summon medical aid. Instead Webb and Crandell spent approximately 15 minutes attempting to get the child to vomit. The child eventually began having what Webb described as a seizure. Webb then placed the child in a pond located on his property. Webb told detectives he was attempting to “cool down” the child. After removing the child from the pond, Webb then summoned medical aid. All three children were detained by detectives.

During a search of the property detectives from the Felony Investigations Unit and the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force located numerous evidence items to include methamphetamine pipes and methamphetamine “water bongs.” Webb and Crandell were both placed under arrest for three felony counts of child endangerment. Webb and Crandell’s bail was set at $500,000. Their arraignment in Butte County Superior Court was set for April 20, 2020.
The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with additional information to contact Detective Brian Mollath or Detective Tristan Harper at 530-538-7671.