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Report of children playing in street results in father's arrest at Cloverdale
CLOVERDALE -- A 24-year-old Cloverdale man is the Putnam County Jail on preliminary charges of neglect of a dependent after his two small children were found playing in the street wearing only undergarments, Indiana State Police at Putnamville reported.
At approximately 12:35 p.m. Saturday, Indiana State Police Master Trooper Troy Sunier was dispatched to 314 Someday Way in Stardust Hills on the northwest side of Cloverdale on a report of the children playing in the street.
Preliminary investigation revealed a concerned citizen had reportedly noticed the two young males, ages two and three, playing in the street wearing only diapers and appearing very unclean. The concerned citizen called police and before law enforcement arrived, the boys' father walked over and retrieved them.
Master Trooper Sunier arrived within 15 minutes of the call and approached the 314 Someday Way residence to check on the boys, State Police said.
He reported that the residence appeared in extreme disarray with soiled and stained carpets, filthy kitchen and living areas, trash and soiled diapers strewn about, remnants of old food scattered about, sharp kitchen instruments within reach of the children, bathroom facilities inadequate, the overwhelming smell of urine and feces, and many other miscellaneous unhealthy and dangerous environmental hazards.
A four-month-old male (from the same mother) was also found in the residence in a similar condition and exposed to the same environmental hazards.
The father, Robert J. Henline, was taken into custody and incarcerated in the Putnam County Jail on a preliminary Level 6 felony charge of neglect of a dependent.
The 26-year-old mother of the three assisted the Department of Child Services with relocation of the children to a safer environment and is expected to be summoned into Putnam County Court on similar charges, State Police said.
Authorities said the children were not hospitalized and are currently in the care of adults appointed by Department of Child Services.
The case was investigated by ISP Master Trooper Sunier with assistance from Putnam County Sheriff's Department deputies Brian Helmer and Scott Ducker, Indiana Department of Child Services Putnam County and the Putnam County Prosecutor's Office.