A Palm Bay father is under arrest and speaking out from jail.
It began with a physical argument with his father, and then turned into child abuse charges.
Investigators say he forced his two young autistic children to smoke synthetic marijuana. Scott Crawley says it was to prove it’s a treatment for autism.
“It’s not a point of saying I’m going to do this all the time. This is a one-time thing. I promise you that,” said Crawley.
Scott Crawley wears an orange prisoner’s uniform, hands and feet shackled. He’s there because of what happened Tuesday.
Investigators say he gave one of his autistic children a substance he claims was medicinal medical marijuana.
“I thought I might go to jail for this, but it was worth it for the cause. For the children with autism,” said Crawley.
Crawley maintains his reason for doing it was just. His goal is to raise awareness for autism.
“I’m hoping they will be able to have medical marijuana in edible form,” he said.
Crawley wants it to be a legal treatment for the disease. He even talks extensively about it on his Facebook page. He says, he too is autistic, schizophrenic and on medication.
A police report states his father told officers Crawley had forced his 10-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter to smoke out of a vial. Testing showed it was a high grade diesel potpourri.
Investigators say the vial had a warning label saying “not for human consumption.” They also say Crawley videotaped the incident and put it on Facebook. The video has since been taken down.
The report says it shows Crawley forcing the children to take a hit off the pipe, describing both children as nervous and scared. Investigators said Crawley helped them do it.
He claims he didn’t force his son, who didn’t participate.
“I would rather my children didn’t smoke at all. I would rather them eat medical marijuana in the form of a brownie, or a cupcake or a sucker,” said Crawley.
For now Crawley is in jail, away from his children, whom he hopes to see again soon.
“I love them very much, and I wish I could hug and kiss them. And be good for Nana and Papa and not miss me too much,” he said.
The children are ok and staying with their grandparents. The Department of Children and Families is investigating.
Police said Crawley also admitted to giving his 7-year-old daughter, who is a type 1 diabetic, energy drinks to relieve her hyperactivity. They say Crawley would then give the child extra insulin to overcome the affects of the sugar in the drinks.
Crawley made a court appearance Wednesday.
One of his charges is a previous child abuse charge from August.
He’s also now charged with two counts of aggravated child abuse, battery on a person over 65. He’s being held on a $127,000 bond.
