 |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Arrests made following Amber Alert Melodie Phelps News Editor The Amber Alert for two children, picked up from Bell Elementary School last Thursday afternoon, ended when the two children were found in Georgia several hours later. But the story doesnıt end there. The father and step-mother of the children were arrested Monday afternoon by Kentucky State Police and the Wayne County Sheriffıs Department, both charged with falsely reporting an incident in connection with the Amber Alert. Kentucky State Police said that Jeremy Allen Cross, 26, and Jennifer K. Cross, 39, both of Monticello, were taken into custody at 4:32 p.m. on February 14 and lodged in the Wayne County Detention Center. Two local children found in Georgia Thursday, February 10, several hours after they were picked up from Bell Elementary School by their mother, who officials said at that time did not have custody of them. Officials have since stated that the mother had joint custody of the children. The brother and sister were picked up at approximately 2:45 p.m. Thursday by their mother, Bonnie Faith, 25. Information about the two children, as well as a description of Faith and the vehicle she was traveling in, was released to media outlets across the state, when the Amber Alert was activated at about 6:30 p.m. Messages concerning the two missing children were continuously broadcast on Lexington television stations throughout the evening. The two children were located in Chatsworth, Georgia at approximately 9 p.m. Thursday. Thatıs when state police canceled the Amber Alert for the two children. A statement issued by police at that time noted the children were safe and were in the custody of Georgia authorities. School officials at Wayne County issued a statement Thursday evening, after the children were located, expressing appreciation to local law enforcement and Kentucky State Police for their quick response to the situation. Superintendent John Dalton stated that Faith was on the parent pickup list. She showed school employees two photo identifications as well. ³Our people followed our procedures,² stated Dalton. School employees were apparently still concerned about the situation, after the children were picked up and immediately notified local law enforcement and Kentucky State Police. The Amber Alert was not issued until after Kentucky State Police began to investigate and received information that made them become concerned about the welfare of the children. In a letter that Dalton mailed to all parents in the district this week, he explained that the entire event ³was a product of a dispute between the parents in this case.² He indicted in the letter that the mother had been included on the pick up list ³under less than honest means.² ³Of course, we hope an incident like this will never occur, however it is our responsibility to be able to respond to emergency situations and handle them in a prompt and professional manner,² stated Dalton. ³I can assure you that was the case last Thursday. Crisis plans are in place at each building and the staff is well trained in following these guidelines to do the best job possible in protecting students.² ³In fact, I am extremely proud of our staff, which worked long into the night with law officials and in the days since the incident occurred as the investigation and resolution of the case concludes,² he stated. ³Our childrenıs safety is precious to us and we take it very seriously.² Dalton states in the letter that the district will immediately begin to require that any changes made to a childıs pickup list be made in person. If school officials have any concerns they will require further identification. He urges parents to make sure the school has up-to-date contact numbers and emergency contact numbers on file. State Police said Monday that the investigation into this matter is continuing. Falsely reporting an incident is a Class A misdemeanor and it punishable by up to 12 months in jail. Reader Comments john (2/22/2005) glad to see the school did good in this case,. great job Add a comment |
|
|
@ 2005 The Wayne County Outlook For more information, see our online Privacy Policy. |