HOLYOKE – A 5-year-old is recovering after swallowing a packet of heroin or cocaine stamped with a picture of one of his favorite superheroes, while his father is in jail facing multiple drug charges.

The boy brought a packet of heroin or cocaine stamped with “Spiderman” to school and told a staff member that he took the drugs and it would turn him into a superhero. The principal at H.B. Lawrence School realized the packet had contained heroin or cocaine and immediately called for an ambulance at about 11 a.m., said Police Lt. James Albert.

The principal also contacted the child’s mother and police, who all went to Baystate Medical Center, in Springfield, where the child was taken. Officers interviewed the mother and contacted the Department of Children and Families, which began its own investigation, he said.

“The principal, Cathy Hourihan, did a super job handling this,” Albert said.

Earlier that morning, the child was home with his father at 145 Essex St., apartment 5 left. The boy went into the bedroom, where his father was sleeping, and found the packet of drugs stamped with the face of Spiderman, Albert said.

“It looks like candy and it was stamped with Spiderman and this little boy loves Spiderman,” he said.

Albert said he isn’t sure if the mother was home when he found the drugs. There is also an infant living in the apartment, Albert said.

After responding to the hospital, police began an investigation, went to Essex Street and searched the apartment, he said.

They found the child’s father unconscious on the bed. They shook him awake and immediately arrested him on a default warrant. When he got up, officers found multiple packets of what they believe to be heroin and cocaine underneath his body and scattered around the bed, Albert said.

Benny Garcia, 29, was charged with possession of heroin and cocaine, possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to distribute, reckless endangerment of a child and on the warrant, Albert said.

He is currently being held on $5,000 bail at the Holyoke Police Department and is scheduled to be arraigned in Holyoke District Court Friday morning, he said.

Albert did not have details about the children but said the Department of Children and Families is ensuring they are safe. The child was admitted and is undergoing tests at Baystate.

Police have had multiple problems in that apartment building, “145 is a known hot spot for drug dealing,” Albert said.

Holyoke Police detectives were assisted in the investigation by the Hampden County Narcotics Task Force and Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni’s office.