An Arizona father was arrested for allegedly inhaling nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, with his two children, ages 12 and 13, one of whom passed out during an ATV ride.
Ryan Belknap and his children inhaled laughing gas “repeatedly” and “continuously” for several hours while four-wheeling in the Ash Fork area, according to a Facebook post from the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.
One of the children lost consciousness due to the overwhelming amount of medication they administered ‘but received no medical assistance.’
The mother, Belknap’s ex, filed a child abuse report with the sheriff’s office on June 4, alleging that there was an incriminating video filmed by one of the children that showed them all inhaling the anesthetic through balloons.
The woman’s 16-year-old daughter, who police said was not on the ATV trip, showed the video to her mother.
Ryan Belknap, pictured at his reservation, and his children inhaled laughing gas “repeatedly” and “continuously” for several hours while “four-wheeling” in the Ash Fork area.
This off-road adventure occurred during the children’s scheduled visit with their father last Sunday, according to police.
After police interviewed the mother and children about this incident, they tracked Belknap to his residence in Cornville, which is approximately an hour and a half from Ash Fork.
A search of his home turned up “numerous large canisters of nitrous oxide” and “balloons used to inhale the drug,” police said.
Belknap was arrested and charged with a number of crimes, including child endangerment. He entered prison last Wednesday night.
People who use nitrous oxide recreationally often dispense canisters containing the drug in balloons like the ones police said were in Belknap’s home.
Then, they put the balloon in their mouth and inhale the gas.
It is illegal to inhale laughing gas while operating a motor vehicle, which could expose Belknap to even more legal problems.
A couple of canisters of nitrous oxide or laughing gas and two balloons used for smelling
The medication, most commonly used in dentists’ offices to subject patients to procedures, is known to produce almost instant euphoria and uncontrolled laughter, hence its name.
Unlike controlled substances like cocaine or heroin, nitrous oxide is not actually illegal to possess.
Despite that, laughing gas, which experts say can become addictive if used repeatedly, is federally illegal for recreational use.
It is also illegal to inhale laughing gas while operating a motor vehicle, which could expose Belknap to even more legal problems.
If someone inhales too much laughing gas, they could be at risk of having a heart attack, according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation.