Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Clifford Byron Trunick IV, aged 41, was taken into custody yesterday, facing charges of child neglect resulting in great bodily harm, after a two-month-old baby was found to have cocaine and fentanyl in their system.
At approximately 3:48 a.m. on August 25, emergency responders from Alachua County Fire Rescue, along with Sheriff’s Deputies, arrived following a distress call concerning a two-month-old infant. The baby was quickly transported to the Pediatric Emergency Room at UF Health Shands, where medical staff identified the cause of distress as a drug overdose. Tests confirmed that the infant had been exposed to cocaine and fentanyl. At the time of Trunick’s arrest report, the infant was stabilized in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
During questioning by the deputies, Trunick allegedly mentioned hosting friends recently who used cocaine in his garage. Apparently, cocaine had spilled on the desktop in that area. Trunick, who possesses a medical marijuana card, suggested the possibility that cocaine was transferred to the infant from the garage after he had smoked marijuana there on August 24, near where the spill occurred.
The Department of Children and Families conducted drug tests on both parents, revealing that Trunick tested positive for THC, alcohol, a prescribed medication, cocaine, and fentanyl. Deputies determined that Trunick was the only person in contact with both the infant and the substances cocaine and fentanyl.
A search warrant executed at Trunick’s residence led to the discovery of a torn bag containing cocaine in the master bathroom. Additionally, white powder was found around the sink drain, suggesting an attempt by Trunick to dispose of the cocaine by washing it away.
Trunick is charged with child neglect resulting in great bodily harm, along with two counts of possessing a controlled substance without a prescription and evidence tampering. Although he has a prior misdemeanor traffic conviction in Marion County, Trunick has no known local criminal history. Judge Meshon Rawls has ordered that he be detained without bail pending a hearing, prompted by the State Attorney’s office’s motion to keep him in custody until trial; should the judge deny this motion, bail will be determined at that hearing.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
