Police find father sleeping, 2-year-old on roof

The family cannot return to the condemned home until improvements are made.

By TIM YOVICH

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

WARREN — A 29-year-old father of five will appear in court today after police found him sleeping in his run-down home, while his 2-year-old daughter was on the roof.

James D. Lopez, of 501 Parkman Road N.W., will be arraigned in municipal court on a charge of child endangering.

In the meantime, the city building department will work with the family to get it back into the house after repairs are made.

“We try to educate people. Hopefully, they’ll learn from their mistakes,” said Chris Tanneyhill, city building inspector.

Trumbull County Children Services put the family up at a motel because Tanneyhill recommended that the city health department condemn the house because of its deplorable condition.

City police reported receiving a call shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday from the Ohio State Highway Patrol that a trooper was flagged down by a neighbor, who told them the child was on the roof.

When city police arrived, they found a neighbor securing Jenna Lopez on the front porch roof of the two-story structure so she didn’t fall.

The neighbor put the girl back through the bedroom window she had climbed out.

Police reported they began to yell to find out if anyone was inside.

Deplorable conditions

Police said that when they walked inside the house, they found it in deplorable condition and Lopez sleeping on a mattress in the living room. He was awakened.

Lopez told police he lives at the house with his girlfriend Melissa Bailey and their children, Jenna; Angela, 10; Morgan, 12; and Moriah, 15.

The building inspector was called after police found ceiling plaster and wood torn down, food scattered around the house and clothing and debris scattered around.

City officials said the family cannot return to the condemned house until improvements are made and approved by the city.

Tanneyhill said the house had no smoke detectors or working plumbing. Feces remained in the toilet.

yovich@vindy.com