AUSTINTOWN County takes kids found in street

The children's mother is facing several charges of child neglect and endangerment.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- In September, police charged her with child endangerment. In October, she was charged with child neglect.
Yet until Sunday, when police charged her with an additional two counts of child endangerment, the woman, 22, of North Raccoon Road, still had custody of her 1-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter.
On Sunday morning, the two children were found naked and running in and out of traffic on North Raccoon Road near their family's apartment. Their mother spoke with Mahoning County Children's Services Board caseworkers and signed an agreement to give children's services custody of the children for 30 days while police and caseworkers investigate.
Police charged the mother with two counts of child neglect Tuesday morning, but information could not be obtained from the juvenile court about the status of those or the previous charges.
Police calls: Police first responded to calls about the family on Sept. 9, when the boy was found walking across North Raccoon Road at 2:30 a.m. The boy and his sister had been left alone in their apartment, police said.
On. Oct. 11, police found the girl in the middle of the road, where she was almost hit by a car. Her mother said she was helping another woman when the girl got out of the apartment.
Police reports do not mention the children's father.
Denise Stewart, executive director of the county children's services board, said only police and the courts have the authority to deny parents custody of their children. Austintown police Lt. Joe Giampietro said police "have a right to remove them if it's a serious, dangerous situation."
Wants court action: Giampietro said that in September, police left the children with their mother in hopes that the mother would learn from her mistakes. After responding to the call about the children in October, police wanted the county juvenile court to step in and make a decision about the children's future, Giampietro said.
"This is why we want court action taken, so the judge can decide if [the mother] should retain these children or have them placed with someone else," he said. "It's about time somebody took these kids."
However, Giampietro said that county prosecutors and the courts have been slow to move ahead with the cases against the mother.
The assistant prosecutors at the juvenile court did not return calls for comment.
Sunday: An area resident called police at 9:30 a.m. Sunday and said the children were naked and running in the street. Local residents said they took control of the children and wrapped them in coats to keep them warm until police arrived.
Both children had red marks on their bodies and rashes, police said. Officers placed the children in a cruiser.
An officer who responded to the call remembered the earlier reports about the children and went to the mother's apartment to investigate. Reports state that the apartment was "dirty and unkept. Trash, clothing and human feces were observed on the floor of the apartment. The kitchen was unsanitary with little food. Bedding on the children's bed was soiled and covered with debris."
The mother was sleeping when police arrived at the apartment.
Stewart said that if the neglect and endangerment cases are not decided within 30 days, children's services can ask the juvenile court for legal custody of the children. She added that although she could not legally discuss the status of the two children, most children who are in the custody of children's services are sent to foster homes.
hill@vindy.com