Desiree Jackson cited after kids left alone

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A Franklin Street woman was charged with driving under suspension and child endangering after police say she left her four children home by themselves Friday morning.

Police were called to the home in the 1100 block of Franklin Street about 10:05 a.m. because of a 911 hangup call. When an officer arrived, he saw three children and a pit bull through a window.

The officer got one of the kids to let him inside, and they told him their parents were not home. The officer looked through the home and found a cellphone number for their mother, Desiree Jackson, 23, and called her to come home.

Reports said Jackson admitted not having a driver’s license and said she went to a nearby store and was planning on being gone only a couple of minutes. She said she did not want to “lug” the children around, which is why she left them home.

Reports said the kids are 5, 3, 2 and 10 months. The youngest was in a crib in the middle of the living room, and the 2-year-old was the one who called 911 and hung up, according to the report.

Mahoning County Children Services was notified.

The report states that there was plenty of food in the home, but officers did notice rats outside gnawing on trash that was next to the front door.

Jackson is scheduled to be arraigned in Youngstown Municipal Court on Monday.