Police: Mother Charged After Leaving Children Alone In South Philadelphia Home
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Authorities removed two children early Friday morning from a South Philadelphia home after it was discovered they had been left alone in "deplorable condition".
The incident happened a little before 2 a.m., after police stopped a blue Ford Escape in the 200 block of S. 12th Street. During the stop, police questioned one of the passengers identified as 31-year-old Dawn Canterbury of the 100 block of Snyder Avenue. Authorities say through the course of their investigation, they discovered that Canterbury had an open warrant for fraud in Lansdale, Pa. Police subsequently recovered narcotics from Canterbury during a search.
Police say Canterbury requested the driver of the vehicle go home and check on her children. When it was discovered no one was at home watching the children, police proceeded to Canterbury's residence.
Upon arrival, the officers observed the door to the second floor apartment wide open and in "deplorable condition." Police say rats were seen running around inside the apartment. Police say the three-year-old boy was in the living room and a one-year-old boy from in a crib in the bedroom; both were unharmed.
The Department of Human Services was contacted and the children were taken into DHS custody.
Canterbury is charged with Narcotics Violations and two counts of Endangering The Welfare of a Child and Recklessly Endangering Another Person.
