WILMINGTON — Two parents have been charged with child endangerment by Wilmington police, and their two children placed into protective care.
In carrying out a search warrant, police said they found two children who allegedly slept in closets, with one confined by gates.
Drugs, drug-tafficking items, and two dogs’ urine and feces were found in the apartment, according to Wilmington Police Chief Duane Weyand.
Ryan Pleukharp, 35, was charged with a 2nd-degree felony charge of child endangering, and Donna Pleukharp, 36, was charged with a 3rd-degree felony charge of child endangering.
Weyand said, in a prepared statement, that Ryan Pleukharp’s charge is a higher-degree felony because he has a prior conviction of child endangering.
Additional charges will be filed at a later date once lab reports are received from the Ohio Crime Lab, Weyand said.
Wilmington police received a complaint of drug activity at a North Walnut Street apartment and searched the premises after officers spotted drugs and obtained a warrant.
Weyand stated that the officers learned that two children slept in closets in the one-bedroom apartment. The closets were so small an officer could stand inside and touch all the walls by extending his arms, according to Weyand.
He said one child with disabilities was confined to the closet with gates that he could not remove himself.
Both children were removed from the residence and placed with Clinton County Children Services, Weyand said.
The Wilmington Police Department contributed to this report.
