In Hialeah Gardens, Miami-Dade County, a persistent dog's barking led to the discovery of a severe case of child neglect. Authorities apprehended 30-year-old Eury Colón after uncovering that his two young children were living in appalling conditions, surrounded by cockroaches, feces, and garbage scattered throughout the house.
The incident unfolded last Sunday night when a Hialeah Gardens police officer responded to a noise complaint at a residence on Northwest 111th Terrace around 9:30 p.m. Initially, the call concerned excessive noise from a dog, but the scene the officer encountered upon arrival was far more alarming.
According to the arrest report, as cited by Local 10, the officer knocked on the door for at least five minutes without any response. Noticing a lit window, the officer approached to investigate further.
"I noticed a window on the far right of the residence's front with the bedroom lights on and knocked several times," the officer wrote. A small child, completely naked, then opened the blinds, revealing a scene of utter neglect.
"I observed the naked child and a room filled with used Pampers diapers covered in feces," the officer added.
Soon after, Colón arrived by car and attempted to excuse the situation by claiming that the children's mother was asleep inside the house. However, his behavior aroused suspicion.
Upon entering the residence, Colón attempted to close the door, prompting the officer to intervene. "I informed Eury that for the children's safety, the door needed to remain open so I could keep them in view, as the minors appeared to be alone, turning this into a police investigation," the officer recounted.
A statement made by Colón, censored in the police report, resulted in his immediate arrest. Under "exigent circumstances," the officer entered the home to assess the children's condition, confirming the worst fears.
The report noted, "the small child had feces on his left leg," and the house was in a "chaotic state." In another bedroom, a baby was found, also exposed to extremely unsanitary conditions.
"I found multiple open food containers scattered throughout the house. Feces was present across the residence floor, along with cockroaches throughout the residence and the children's rooms," the officer detailed.
The situation necessitated contacting the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), which immediately dispatched an investigator. The environment was deemed "dangerous for the children," leading to their prompt removal from the home. Paramedics from the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue transported the children to Palmetto General Hospital for medical evaluation.
Eury Colón faces two serious charges of child neglect and is currently held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center (TGK). As of Monday afternoon, no bail had been set, according to online jail records. There is no further information available regarding the children's mother.
Key Details on Child Neglect Case in Hialeah Gardens
What led authorities to discover the neglect in Hialeah Gardens?
A neighbor's complaint about a constantly barking dog led police to respond to the residence, where they discovered the neglectful conditions.
What were the conditions found inside the home?
The home was in a chaotic state, with feces on the floor, cockroaches present, and used diapers scattered. A naked child was found in a room filled with used diapers covered in feces.
What actions were taken by authorities following the discovery?
The Florida Department of Children and Families was contacted, and the children were removed from the home and taken to Palmetto General Hospital for evaluation.