Five people were arrested in Kentucky after a two-year-old toddler was discovered “unclothed” in a “caged area.”
On Monday, Nov. 4, Detective Dave Roberts and the Carrollton Police Department responded to complaints of a child being held in a confined location at a property on 7th Street following a “prior tip from the community,” according to a Facebook post.
“Upon arrival, Detective Roberts and Sgt. Taylor located a male child, unclothed and under the age of 3 that was locked behind a wooden and metal enclosure that was secured with a padlock,” the police posted.
Brenda Chilton, 71, of Carrollton; William Mahoney, 72, of Carrollton; Codey Johnson, 29, of Carrollton; Tammy Simmons, 52, of Carrollton; and Shelby Turocy, 28, of Ghent, KY, were all arrested and charged with criminal abuse and wanton endangerment, police verified in a Facebook message.
Turocy is also charged with possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana, according to the post.
“Detective Roberts, Sgt Taylor, Chief Willhoite, Assistant Chief Dews, and Sgt. Dews secured the scene and executed a search warrant on the property,” police stated in a Facebook post. According to them, “following a preliminary investigation two children were removed from the home by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.”
According to a criminal complaint, the little kid was “kept in a room with urine and feces,” as reported by The Sacramento Bee and The News & Observer, citing publishing company McClatchy News.
According to WDRB, Detective Roberts described the situation as “a child was behind there, completely unclothed.”
“There was feces, and then you’re in that contained area,” the officer explained.
According to the publication, the investigator stated that a delivery driver informed authorities after “seeing a young child locked in what appeared to be a cage,” and that eight to ten “in poor health” pets were also discovered on the property.
Police have not confirmed whether the boy is related to any of the five adults arrested and currently housed in The Carroll County Detention Center.
“If you see something, say something,” Roberts said about the case, according to WDRB. “This case serves as a reminder of the vital role that bystanders can play in ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable children.”
An investigation is ongoing.
PEOPLE contacted the Carrollton Police Department for more information, but they did not answer immediately.
If you suspect child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week in over 170 languages.