CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A Chillicothe man was arrested for active felony warrants after officers responded to a call of two young children found alone, playing in the middle of a busy street.
Officers responded to the 300 block of East Second Street around 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Reports say officers made contact with the caller, who said a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old were running in and out of traffic. The caller stated that she believed the children came from a nearby apartment but was not certain of the address.
One responding officer said they placed the children in their cruiser and drove around the neighborhood hoping to find their home. Officers spoke with several residents who said they did not recognize the children. A short time later, reports say, a young girl approached the officer’s car and stated that she might know where the children had come from.
The residence was eventually located.
Officers reported that they knocked on the front door several times but no one answered. A few moments later, two other children answered the door. When asked if the other children in the cruiser were their siblings, they answered “yes”.
In his report, Officer Claytor said, “A few seconds later, a male came to the door window and I instructed him to step outside. Approximately 3 minutes later, the male still failed to come out. I again yelled for him to come out and he came back to the window and said he was looking for his keys. I informed him that we had the keys because they were outside. Approximately another 4 minutes goes by and finally, the male comes outside.”
The man, later identified as 37-year-old Seth Davenport, said the mother informed him that he was supposed to be watching the children while she was gone. The man said he was sleeping and did not know the children had left the house. The two young children, authorities say, walked three blocks over a railroad track and into the roadway.
Davenport was arrested at the scene and charged with two counts of child endangering.
Officers say they also found drugs and paraphernalia on him. He was transported to the Ross County Jail, where he remains in custody.
The children were placed back in the care of their mother.