9-year-old so drunk he nearly died

CARLSBAD, N.M. (KRQE) - Police said a nine-year-old boy found passed out on a playground barely conscious was very drunk. 

When he sobered up, police charged him with a crime, and he's not the only one in trouble.

Late last month, two kids found their 9-year old friend passed out at a Carlsbad playground. He was incoherent, his eyes glazed over, and he could barely move.

They carried him to a bench and called for help.

When police arrived, the 9-year-old was unresponsive on the bench. The cuts on his face, other kids said, came when he fell face first onto the pavement.

The boy was rushed to the hospital and spent the night in the intensive care unit.

His father, who did not wish to be identified, said he was scared "that he was going to die from alcohol poisoning."

"He didn't even recognize us; they couldn't get him to wake up at first," said the boy's father.

Doctors said his son had a blood alcohol level of 0.24; three times the presumed level of intoxication for drivers under state law.

"The doctor's said it almost killed him," the father said.

The 9-year old recovered and was later given a citation for being a minor who allowed himself to be served.

"They told me he was drunk, and I knew he didn't do that on his own," the father said.  "I know he didn't walk into an Allsup's and buy a bottle of liquor, so I knew somebody had given it to him."

Police said they filled in that piece of the puzzle on Tuesday when a 13-year-old boy admitted stealing a bottle of vodka from Albertson's that the 9-year old then drank.

The 13-year-old was cited Tuesday for shoplifting and being a minor in possession of alcohol.  Police said the charges are very rare for kids so young.

"I've had the conversation, maybe smoking weed, you know, that's what mainly the young kids do nowadays, but I didn't think I'd ever have to have this conversation," the father added.

The 9-year-old's parents said their son's citation was dropped Tuesday by a juvenile probation officer.

Carlsbad detectives said if police find out that an adult was involved in this case, that person can face a charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and child abuse.