WCSD Press Release (Mar 28, 2018) - The Whitley County Sheriff's Department is reporting that at around 10:30 A.M. on March 27, 2018, Detective John Hill and Deputy Cody Harrell responded to a Reverend Gene Young Road residence in reference to a welfare check.
A citizen contacted Sheriff Colan J. Harrell with concerns that children were in danger at that location, and Sheriff Harell ordered the welfare check. Upon arrival, Det. Hill and Dep. Harrell observed generally unsanitary conditions, including what were believed to be roaches in and around food. Also, the residence had no running water.
Social services responded and determined the four, three and one-year-olds should be removed from the residence.
Heather Clark, 30, and Carlton D. Douglas, 19, were arrested and charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of a minor. Clark and Douglas were not parents of any child, but had been entrusted with their care.
“You hear the phrase, ‘If you see something, say something.’ Well, we do something. I’m pleased this individual felt comfortable enough to share their concern and confident that we would investigate their suspicions. Improving law enforcement and community connections has been a focus of mine, and here you can only imagine what it would be like with children of that age in a place without water hadn’t been protected by a concerned citizen.” -Sheriff Colan J. Harrell
Photos courtesy of the Whitley County Detention Center.
