Couple arrested after allegedly leaving child unattended at Walmart while under the influence of heroin

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Angel Raquel Haire, 31, and John Michael Haire IV, 31, were arrested yesterday evening after a call from a witness at the Walmart on NW 23rd Street, reporting that a man was repeatedly leaving a child unattended and appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Gainesville Police Department officers responded to the call at 6:51 p.m., finding John Haire with the witness inside the store. The officer reported that Haire was unable to sit still, kept swaying back and forth, and had multiple scabs on his arms, neck, and face, which is “consistent with someone who uses heroin.” The officer determined that John Haire appeared to be under the influence of narcotics. Another officer wrote that due to the level of intoxication, John Haire was “not able to provide adequate supervision to [the child] that a prudent person would.”

John Haire said that Angel Haire was outside, parking the car. An officer went out and found the car, which was still running with Angel lying unresponsive in the driver’s seat. The report says that EMS had to administer NARCAN to bring her back to consciousness. The officer reported seeing a used needle next to her and more needles on the driver’s side floor. A search reportedly found multiple packets of substances that appeared to methamphetamine, another packet of a substance that tested positive for heroin, and four loaded syringes with an unknown narcotic.

After the NARCAN was administered, Angel allegedly became “very combative,” kicking one of the responding personnel in the chest multiple times and striking a paramedic who was trying to render aid.

Both were detained, and a search of John reportedly found marijuana in his pocket.

Post Miranda, John reportedly admitted to using heroin about 4-6 hours before the incident and using “molly” right before they left for Walmart.

Both were charged with child abuse without great bodily harm because the 5-year-old child was left unattended inside the store and because drugs and needles were accessible to the child in the car. John Haire was charged with possession of marijuana, and Angel Haire was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. John is being held on $51,000 bail, and Angel is being held on $121,000 bail.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.