CALIFORNIA -- Five women were arrested Thursday after 20 children and 20 dogs were removed from a home in Victorville because of alleged “uninhabitable” conditions,” police said.
Deputies responded around 10:45 a.m. to the residence, in the 15800 block of Eto Camino Road, to help the Department of Children and Family Services remove the kids from the home, according to a Friday afternoon Victorville Police Department news release.
Officials said they found multiple “serious health and safety issues,” including an insufficient amount of food for the 25 occupants, inadequate sleeping conditions, black mold, and no electricity or gas, the release stated. The carpet, walls and furniture were also all in serious disrepair.
Twenty children between the ages of 2 months and 17 years old were taken from the home, according to police.
Animal Control removed 20 dogs from the home, including two who were dead. The pets had no access to water, the release said.
Five women were arrested and booked on suspicion of child cruelty at the High Desert Detention Center. They were identified as: Matosha Martinez, 35; Virginia Mann, 61; Cherish Lewis, 22; Dajanet Smith, 25; and Thereca Griffin, 42, according to police.
Martinez and Mann also faced an additional charge of being under the influence of a controlled substance.
An investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to call Victorville police at 760-241-2911. Those who would like to remain anonymous can contact the We-Tip Hotline by dialing 1-800-782-7463.
A neighbor said that when authorities showed up, women were grabbing kids and running away. All the men escaped because they abandoned the women and children and ran out the back door, leaving them behind.
Other neighbors said that because there was no running water, the adults and the children would simply walk across the street to urinate and defecate, in full view of all then neighbors. Neighbors say they complained REPEATEDLY to child protective services - and NOTHING was done. Until now.
I'd like to know why the property owner didn't inform CPS that the power and water had been shut off. Where did he think people would be going to the bathroom? Does he not care that his property is being destroyed by dozens of animals and humans? Section 8 (aka low income housing) is known to be owned by slumlord type people who don't care b/c they get a guaranteed check from the government (aka taxpayers).
VICTORVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASE:
Twenty children & 20 dogs were removed from a home in Victorville due to uninhabitable conditions
DATE/TIME: September 1, 2016 / 10:42 am
INCIDENT: Child Cruelty, Under the Influence of Controlled Substance
LOCATION: 15800 block of Eto Camino Road
SUSPECT(S):
Matosha Martinez, 35 of Victorville
Cherish Lewis, 22 of Victorville
Dajanet Smith, 25 of Victorville
Thereca Griffin, 42 of Victorville
Virginia Mann, 61 of Victorville
VICTIM(S): Confidential
SUMMARY: On September 1, 2016, deputies from the Victorville Police Department responded to the 15800 block of Eto Camino Road to assist the Department of Children and Family Services in removing children from a home.
The home was found to be uninhabitable, with several serious health and safety issues. There was an insufficient amount of food in the home for the 5 adults and 20 children living there. The sleeping conditions were inadequate, there was no electricity or gas, and the carpet, walls, and furniture were in severe disrepair.
Neighbors said they could tell the house had no power because the women walked around with flashlights at night and cooked on barbecues in the yard.
Code Enforcement found several serious issues, including black mold and deemed the home uninhabitable. Animal Control removed 20 dogs, two were deceased. None of the dogs had access to water.
The Department of Children and Family Services removed 20 children from the home, ranging from 2 ½ months to 17 years old.
Five female adults were arrested and booked at High Desert Detention Center. Matosha Martinez and Virginia Mann were booked for under the influence of a controlled substance and child cruelty.
Cherish Lewis, Dajanet Smith, and Thereca Griffin were booked for child cruelty.
Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the Victorville Police Department at (760) 241-2911. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.
Refer: Mara Rodriguez, Media Relations Officer
Station: Victorville Police Department
Case #: 171610564, 171610566
Phone No. (760) 241-2911
JOHN MCMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
Address/Location:
SBSD - Victorville Police Department
14200 Amargosa Rd
Victorville, CA 92392
Contact:
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 909-387-3700
(KTLA - Sept 2, 2016)
