A Hot Springs man and woman were arrested Wednesday and charged with endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree, a felony punishable by up to six years in prison.
Amber Dawn Franklin, 28, and
Shaquille Mortez Samuels, 20, were taken into custody at their residence at 425 Autumn St., Apt. 1. Both were later released on $5,000 bonds and are due in Garland County District Court April 7.
At 8:40 a.m., Officer May responded to the residence after the Arkansas Department of Human Services advised the Hot Springs Police Department of a complaint of children home alone and walking outside unsupervised. A subject stated one of her neighbor's children was in her apartment and had spent the night there. May spoke with the juvenile and asked if he had any siblings. He stated he had a younger brother and sister, and they were probably alone in their apartment.
May asked the juvenile where his parents were and he stated his mother, Franklin, was at work and Samuels was not there. The neighbor gave May a number for the parents and officers attempted to contact the children in their apartment but had no response.
May called the number and Samuels answered. He stated the children were fine and were asleep at home. When May stated that's where he was and he needed to see the children, Samuels stated he was at the store and would return shortly. Samuels arrived at 9 a.m. and as he pulled in, the apartment door opened and a boy and girl walked out onto a deck. According to the affidavit, May observed a narrow staircase leading to the deck with no gate to prevent the children from falling. May escorted Samuels inside and contacted Franklin.
When Franklin arrived she stated she and Samuels left the residence in the same car at 8:30 a.m. May informed her Samuels did not return home until 9 a.m., leaving the children, ages five and three, unsupervised for 30 minutes. Franklin stated when they left she saw the children walk down the stairs and assumed they were going to a neighbor's house and that was the last time she saw them.
DHS arrived on scene and took custody of the two younger children and Samuels and Franklin were taken into custody at that time.
• A 50-year-old man was arrested Wednesday and charged with first-degree terroristic threatening, a felony punishable by up to six years in prison, when he allegedly threatened to take away his mother's medications so she would die.
Raymond Kevin Jordan, who listed an 805 Rector Road address, remained in custody Thursday in lieu of a $2,500 bond. He is due in district court April 7.
Officer May responded to 508 Hollywood Ave. at 4:35 p.m. in reference to Jordan threatening the residents. The victim stated Jordan, her son, was upset all day and came to her residence at 4:15 p.m. She stated he became angry when she wouldn't give him any money. He then allegedly stated he would steal all her medications so she would die.
Jordan also stated, "I'm going to kill you," and HSPD was contacted at that time.
Local on 03/27/2015