DHS Takes Child Into Custody After OKC Parents Found Passed Out

An 8-year-old boy was taken into protective custody after police found the child in the backseat of a still-running car, while his passed-out parents sat in the front.

Monday, July 22nd 2013, 1:05 pm

By: News 9


An 8-year-old boy was taken into protective custody after police found the child in the backseat of a still-running car, while his passed-out parents sat in the front.

Just before 12:30 a.m. on July 20, police found the car parked at a light at N.W. 39th Street and Portland in Oklahoma City. Although the light was green, the car was not moving.

Officers approached the car and saw a man behind the wheel, a woman in the passenger's seat and a boy in the backseat. According to the police report, they were all unresponsive. The keys were in the ignition, the car was running, and it was also in drive.

Officers began knocking on the windows and roof of the car, and yelling at the occupants. They said it took several tries to awaken the driver, identified as 30-year-old Joshua Welliver. The officer said Welliver's eyes were red and bloodshot.

After several minutes, officers were finally able to prod Welliver into putting the car in park and opening the door. Police said when he stepped out of the car, Welliver was smiling and swaying on his feet. Police said he also smelled slightly of alcohol.

Police detained both Welliver and 28-year-old Jennifer Hamilton, the woman with him. When police looked in the car, they found a small amount of marijuana. Hamilton gave police permission to search her purse, and police found a pipe commonly used to smoke marijuana.

Police arrested Welliver and Hamilton. Welliver was booked into the Oklahoma County jail for driving under the influence and child endangerment. Hamilton was booked for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia violation.

The child in the car was unharmed and taken into state custody.

 

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