Written by: E. George
Published February 1, 2024 @ 7:15 PM PM ET
Warning: The following story contains information regarding physical violence against/neglect of children.
GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. – Glynn County Police officers responded to an Emanuel Avenue residence when a woman reported finding two small children unattended in the middle of the street with cars driving nearby. One officer noted that he was “familiar with the residence due to other previous calls for service involving domestics and problem persons.”
They met with the caller, who stood on the front porch and saw two “small children that appeared to be younger than the age of three” in the doorway. She explained that she was walking home from the store and spotted the children in the road “as a car passed by where they were standing.”
She walked them over to the house to get them safely inside and noticed the absence of any adults. She checked the home and located two more children in a locked bedroom.
The officers entered the dark home to conduct a welfare check and noted that “the house was filthy with dirt and insects on the floor and on hard surfaces.” They saw “old food on the stove and in the sink” but no “other sources of nutrition available other than some canned food on a top shelf.”
They heard a small child’s voice on the other side of the locked bedroom door. The child was unable to manipulate the door lock, but the officers eventually got it open.
They saw that the female child was under three years old, and another small male child, “appearing to be five or six, [lie] unresponsive on the bed.” After checking on his well-being, they determined he was “just in a deep sleep.”
The officers noticed that the female child’s diaper was so soiled that “it was overflowing and running down her leg.” After walking through the home, they failed to find “any child safety features, such as outlet covers, or even as much as a bed for the children.”
The children’s mother, Destiny Alexandrea Scott, arrived and told them she had traveled “to the store down the roadway” for “approximately 30 minutes.” They arrested and handcuffed her immediately and placed her in a patrol vehicle.
They requested EMS to respond to evaluate the children, and while they waited, one officer purchased happy meals from McDonald’s for each of the hungry kids. They also contacted DFACS, and a case worker arrived on the scene.
The caseworker agreed with the officers that the home was “less than ideal for the small children” and determined that they would be released to Scott’s friends, who were present. The officers and case worker attempted to “get an immediate family member to take custody;” however, “none” of them “were willing.”
They discovered that Scott’s “elderly grandmother, who was wheelchair-bound, was already caring for another small child that belonged to Destiny and was not willing to take the others.” As they prepared the children for their departure, they located a car seat, but when they lifted it, “a large amount of insects fell from the seat on the ground.”
After EMS employees medically cleared the children, they were released to Scott’s friends. The officers transported Scott to the Glynn County Detention Center, where she faces four counts of first-degree child cruelty – deprivation of necessary sustenance. This case is pending in court.
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On 03 January 2024, I Ofc. Thomas Owens #158, responded to [3700 BLOCK] Emanuel Ave in reference to a child abuse call. I am familiar with the residence due to other previous calls for service involving domestics and problem persons. I know that Destiny Scott and multiple small children live at this residence.
Upon arrival, I met with a black female standing on the front porch later identified as [WITNESS #1]. Just past [WITNESS #1] in the open doorway of the residence was two small children that appeared to be younger than the age of 3. Speaking to [WITNESS #1], she advised she was walking home from the store in Arco when she observed the two small children unaccompanied in the street. She further explained that the children were in the middle of the street as a car passed by where they were standing. She went to investigate and get the children back inside the house when she noticed there was no adult on scene. As she was checking the house, she found two more children in the master bedroom behind a locked door.
Myself and Ofc. Miller entered the residence to do a Welfare Check. As we entered we made an announcement identifying ourselves and called out to anybody inside. As we entered the kitchen/foyer area, I observed that the house was filthy with dirt and insects on the floor and on hard surfaces. Entering in the kitchen, I observed old food on the stove and in the sink but did not observe any other sources of nutrition available other than some canned food on a top shelf. The house was dark as we continued to make our way through the house. Upon locating the master bedroom door, I continued to call out to anybody and I heard a small child’s voice on the other side of the door.
I attempted to get the child to open the door he/she was too small to manipulate the door lock and I could not understand what was being said. I was finally able to manipulate the door knob and make entry into the room. Upon entering, I observed a small female child under the age of three, and another small child appearing to be 5 or 6, unresponsive on the bed. Checking on his well being, I determined that he was fine, just in a deep sleep. I also noticed that the small female child also had an extremely soiled diaper to the point it was overflowing and running down her leg. Checking the rest of the house, I did not notice any child safety features such as outlet covers or even as much as a bed for the children.
Shortly after situating the children and radioing for a supervisor to respond, Destiny Scott, the children’s mother arrived back on scene. I asked her where she had gone and how long she was gone for and she advised approx 30 mins to the store down the roadway. I immediately placed her under arrest for cruelty to children in double locked handcuffs behind her back. Destiny was secured in the back of my patrol car and out of precaution radioed for EMS to respond to the scene to further evaluate the children. While EMS responded, Ofc. Roberts went to McDonalds and got each of the children a happy meal to ensure they had something to eat. Speaking to Destiny, I was able to get each of the children’s names and birthdates.
[SECTION REDACTED BY AGENCY]
[REDACTED BY AGENCY] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] were the children found in the street and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] were the children found locked in the bedroom.
I made the determination on scene due to situation that I would speak to a DFACs case worker and have them respond. After giving the initial information over the phone, [REDACTED] with Glynn County DFACs responded to the scene.
After [REDACTED] arrived, he was briefed of the situation and he began to speak to Destiny about possible housing for the children while she was incarcerated. [REDACTED] also did a walk through of the residence and agreed with officers that the situation was less than ideal for the small children. The ultimate determination by DFACs officer [REDACTED] was the children could be released to Destiny’s friends who arrived on scene during the initial investigation. We attempted to get an immediate family member to take custody of the children but none of her family members were willing.
It was also determined that Destiny’s elderly grandmother that was wheel chaired bound was already caring for another small child that belonged to Destiny and was not willing to take the others. While the children were being prepared to be taken from the scene a car seat was found and upon picking it up, a large amount of insects fell from the seat on the ground. EMS cleared the children and they were released into the custody of Destiny’s friends.
Destiny was transported to the Glynn County Detention Center where she was booked on 4 counts of cruelty to children 1st degree. She was released to jail staff without incident and warrants will be obtained through the Glynn County Magistrate Court. Copies of the arrest warrants were submitted to Evidence.com
[End of Narrative]