A Polk County man is facing child neglect charges after a toddler in his care ingested a methadone pill.

Deputies said 34-year-old Shawn Cross purchased four methadone prescription pills from an unknown person and brought them home. He took one pill and put the other three pills in his dresser drawer, deputies said.

A 19-month-old baby in the house ingested one of the pills, and became very ill. The baby was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where he tested positive for methadone, and was then transported to Tampa General Hospital for further testing.

Cross told deputies he may have dropped one of the pills, which is how the baby ingested it.

Deputies recovered one pill at Cross' home during a search of the residence. When asked where the fourth pill was, Cross told deputies he (Cross) took the pill before taking the baby to the hospital.

Cross was arrested without incident and booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of one count possession of controlled substance and one count of child neglect.

Per medical staff, the baby will be treated with medication to counteract the methadone and is expected to make a full recovery.

Cross has been in the Polk County Jail on six prior occasions, for possession of marijuana, aggravated fleeing to elude, resisting arrest, leaving the scene of a crash, petit theft, grand theft, and violation of probation.