Melinda Garcia

Name:
Garcia, Melinda Carmen

Date of Booking:
07/16/2022

Reason(s) For Booking:
Reckless Conduct

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the officer’s narrative report. We do not fix any spelling or grammatical errors. Any changes made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist.]

On July, 16 2022 at 1300 hours, I Lieutenant D.Cadle with the Adairsville Police Department Patrol Division responded to [10 BLOCK] Barnsley Village Trail in reference to a 5 year old child being found.

Upon my arrival I meet and spoke with [WITNESS #1], [WITNESS #2] and [WITNESS #3]. All explained that the 5 year old boy (juvenile 1) who was standing beside the complainants had climbed over the neighborhood pool fence and first approached [WITNESS #1]. Juvenile 1 explained that he was looking for his mother and she was not at home.

I spoke with juvenile 1 and he informed me that his mothers name was Melinda but did not know an address, nor last name. Juvenile 1 said that he frequently stays at his home alone. I asked Juvenile 1 if he could walk me to his home. As we began to walk Juvenile 1 had to use the grass due to the outside temperature on the asphalt and his lack of shoes.

We walked to [60 BLOCK] Barnsley Village Drive and he took me to the open garage door. Juvenile 1 explained that he used the garage door because his dog would escape if he did not use it. I followed the Juvenile into the home where I immediately noticed the distinct odor of dog feces and urine. I then located a white husky inside the home which was also covered in white fur throughout.

I began to announce myself and was unable to locate any adults or other persons inside the residence. The down stairs of the two level home did not have any furniture, the lack of couch or dining table struck me as odd. I made my way upstairs following Juvenile 1 attempting to gain information which would lead me to his mother.

While walking upstairs the ripped and worn carpet which originally came white or tan was black with stains. The doors to the rooms were missing knobs and each room had a window unit supplying the air. One room which was the only room I could distinguish as a child’s room had 1 bed and I was unable to walk into it due to clutter, old food and dirty clothing.

Upstairs did not result in any additional information obtained for the ware about’s of juvenile l’s mother. I contacted the Detective division and Sergeant Shortnacy to assist in the matter.

Sergeant Shortnacy transported Juvenile 1 to the Adairsville Police Department and Detective Daffron contacted Bartow Dfcs. Juvenile 1 had not ate or drank anything on this date according to him. Juvenile 1 was given water and food at the Adairsville Police Department.

Once Juvenile 1 was turned over to Detective Daffron Sergeant Shortnacy and myself went to the Okinawa in an attempt to locate Juvenile l’s mother as he had stated that is her place of employment. Okinawa proved fruitful and contact was made with Melinda Garcia, Garcia stated she was at her residence and had just arrived.

Myself and Sergeant Shortnacy went back to [60 BLOCK] Barnsley Village Drive and I spoke with Garcia. I asked Garcia did she know why we (police) were here and she stated “no”. I then asked Garcia how many children she had and she stated “3”. I then asked for her to name her children. Garcia did so but skipped juvenile 1 who is the second youngest of 4 total children.

I asked Garcia “what about juvenile 1”, it was at this moment Garcia paused to think, then began to ask why? and that she did in fact have 4 children. Garcia assumed juvenile 1 was with her cousin named [REDACTED] but did not know his last name only that he is 23 years old. Garcia stated she assumed [REDACTED] was at home but never spoke with him, Garcia also stated that juvenile 1 was asleep when she left and took the other 3 children to Cartersville.

I explained that I had her child for the last 3 hours and that she and her other children would be escorted to the Adairsville Police Department to speak on the matter further.

Once at the Adairsville Police Department Garcia was turned over to Detective Daffron for an interview. After the interview and DFCS arrival who spoke with Garcia it was determined that Garcia would be charged with reckless conduct and the other children would be taken to Garcia’s soon to be ex husbands residence and DFCS was to follow/inspect the home.

After the DFCS process I then placed Garcia in handcuffs/ double locked and checked for fit. Garcia was taken to the Bartow County Jail where she was then turned over to jail staff custody. I then completed 1 state warrant for Reckless conduct.

[End of Narrative]