Police: 8 children taken into protective custody

Eight children, ages 1 to 11, were taken into police protective custody Thursday after they were found living in deplorable conditions, authorities said.

Officers were called to a welfare check in the 800 block of North Crestway at 7:40 p.m. after receiving a complaint from a neighbor, Wichita police Lt. James Espinoza said.

When officers arrived, they found four children in the front yard of a home. Their babysitter, a 52-year-old woman, was inside and “appeared to be under the influence of something,” Espinoza said. As officers spoke with her, they noticed a 1-year-old child in a car seat playing with a cigarette lighter, he said.

Police entered the home with the babysitter’s permission and found the house to be in “bad condition,” Espinoza said. He gave this account:

Officers discovered dirty clothes on the floor, moldy food and a sink filled with dirty water and dishes. There were no beds or shoes for the children, and officers found no “quality food” for the kids to eat.

Water was pooled in parts of the home and officers saw what appeared to be several ongoing construction projects. Bare pipes were showing. Trash was piled inside and outside of the home.

The children’s 29-year-old mother arrived later. She told officers she was trying to get help, but police decided to take all eight children into protective custody.

This story was originally published June 3, 2016 at 1:57 PM with the headline "Police: 8 children taken into protective custody."