From the Culpeper Police Department:
On May 27, 2021 at approximately 12:07PM, the Culpeper County E-911 Center received a 911 call about an adult couple unconscious in the front seats of a vehicle sitting at a local bank’s drive thru. According to the caller, there was a child in the backseat of that vehicle as well.
Officers immediately responded to the bank and located the vehicle with its occupants. The infant did not appear to be in any distress but it was confirmed that the adults were suffering from a narcotic overdose. The first officer on scene was able to revive the adult female without Narcan and remove her from the vehicle. The male remained unresponsive, even after being administered a dose of Narcan. Both adults were transported by EMS to Culpeper hospital. At the hospital, the adult female was administered a dose of Narcan by hospital staff. Both adults were eventually medically cleared and released.
The two-month-old infant was removed from the vehicle by officers, checked and cleared by EMS, then transported to the Culpeper Police Department for safe keeping. Culpeper Human Services CPS met officers at the department to assist in safe placement of the child.
Culpeper Police Department detectives and Street Crimes Unit officers responded to assist with the investigation. As a result of the investigation, the Culpeper Police Department has charged Eddie E. Cubbage, 40, of Orange, VA with one count of felony Child Abuse and one count of misdemeanor Driving Under the Influence of Drugs. He was held on a secure bond at the Culpeper County Jail. The Culpeper Police Department has also charged Marissa Southerland, 28, of Culpeper, VA with one count of felony Child Abuse. Marissa was also served on unrelated outstanding warrants from Stafford County Sheriff’s Office and Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office. She held without bond and turned over to Fauquier County Jail.
Based on the preliminary investigation, it was found that Cubbage and Southerland arranged to come to the Town of Culpeper to purchase illegal narcotics while the infant was in their care. The couple used the narcotics immediately after purchase, with the infant in the vehicle with them, and then they drove to the bank where they overdosed. The child is known to Cubbage and Southerland, but no additional identifying information will be released to protect the infant’s identity.
“Some of the less visible consequences of this pandemic has been the increased occurrence of drug overdoses, increased rate of substance abuse, and increased number of people experiencing mental health crisis,” said Chief Chris Jenkins. “Addiction and mental health go hand in hand. The speed at which law enforcement can respond to a critical incident is why our officers carry Narcan while on duty. That first dose of Narcan on scene gave EMS the needed extra time to get both of them to the hospital alive. But it’s important to know that Narcan wears off after 30-90 minutes. Both adults had to receive second doses later in this incident because both Ms. Southerland and Mr. Cubbage started overdosing again while still in the custody of law enforcement.”
This is an open and on-going investigation. Anyone with additional information is asked to call Officer Julia Cole at 540-727-3430 extension 5589 or email [email protected]. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can submit tips by calling Culpeper Crime Solvers at 540-727-0300 or submitting a tip at culpeperpd.org
Attached Photos: Eddie E. Cubbage, 40, of Orange, VA; Marissa Southerland, 28, of Culpeper, VA (courtesy Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office)
