JPD- On Sunday 06/02/2024 at 10:20pm, the Jamestown Police Department, along with the Jamestown Ambulance, were called to respond a report of an unresponsive 2-year-old child in the 1300 block of 4th Ave NW in Jamestown, ND.

Responding Jamestown Police Officers arrived on scene and made contact with the 2-year-old victim and the parents. Due to the condition of the child, the parents’ statements to officers about what occurred that evening, and a previous drug overdose that occurred at this residence, officers suspected the 2-year-old was suffering from an overdose of fentanyl. Officers administered Narcan to the 2-year- old. An ambulance arrived on scene and more Narcan was administered. The child was transported to the Jamestown Regional Medical Center and was stabilized.

The Jamestown Police Department contacted the Stutsman County Narcotics Task Force to conduct an extensive investigation of the drug overdose.

The Stutsman County Narcotics Task Force obtained a search warrant and officers searched the residence and found suspected methamphetamine and fentanyl. Officers also found numerous items of drug paraphernalia for smoking and injecting methamphetamine and fentanyl. These items included several syringes, tie offs, alcohol wipes, and metal mixing caps that the parents got from a needle exchange program. These items were located all throughout the residence and well within reach of the 2-year-old victim and another 4-year-old child that lived at the residence.

Due to the officers’ investigation, Rhiannon Hufstetler was arrested for Reckless Endangerment (C Felony) and Maintaining a Dwelling for the use of controlled substances (C Felony). Rhiannon is currently housed in the Stutsman County Correctional Center on a $500 bond. Rhiannon Hufstetler was unable to be charged with Possession of controlled substances, possession of drug paraphernalia, and ingesting a controlled substance due to the ‘Good Samaritan Law’ giving her immunity for calling 911.

Christopher Johnson was arrested for Endangerment of a child (B Felony), Reckless Endangerment (C Felony), Possession of controlled substances (C Felony), Possession of Drug paraphernalia (C Felony), and ingesting a controlled substance (A misdemeanor). Christopher Johnson is being housed in the Stutsman County Correctional Center on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

Agencies involved in the investigation were the Jamestown Police Department, the Stutsman County Narcotics Task Force, and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation.