Delaware State Police say they have arrested the mother of a 4-year-old girl after the child allegedly brought heroin to a daycare center and started to pass it out to other classmates.

Ashley Tull, 30, of Selbyville, Del., was charged with maintaining a drug property and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Authorities told WTXF that troopers and medical personnel responded to the daycare shortly before noon Monday after workers saw some of the children with small bags of an unknown substance. Investigators said the substance was tested at the police station and determined to be heroin.

Police said the girl inadvertently brought the bags of heroin in a backpack that Tull had given her after the girl's regular backpack was ruined by a family pet Sunday night, according to police. Authorities said the child thought the packets were candy and began passing them out to other students

Several children were taken to area hospitals as a precautionary measure and were released after being examined. A total of 249 bags of heroin weighing 3.735 grams was located in the backpack, according to Delaware State Police.

Tull, who has a 9-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl, that live with her in addition to the 4-year-old, was released on $6,000 bail. Authorities say a no contact order was issued, and the children are currently in the custody of a relative.

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