Police: Man left kids alone because wife wouldn't leave bar

[one...two...tree 2,762]

by Matt Culbertson - The Arizona Republic

The father who left his children alone for more than nine hours in his unlocked Phoenix apartment – allowing two of them to leave and wander near a freeway – told authorities that he had gone out drinking the night before, upset that his wife would not leave a bar with him.

Carlton Don Anderson, 28, left his four children alone in the apartment with no food on Wednesday evening at about 8 p.m. and did not return until Thursday at 8 a.m., according to a court document released Friday. Anderson had wanted to pick up his wife from a bar, but when she refused to leave with him, he met up with a friend to drink alcohol.

During that time, Anderson's 3-year-old twins left the apartment and wandered near the onramp to Interstate 17 near Glendale Avenue, where a passerby who almost drove into the children stopped to call authorities.

The other two children remained at the apartment, which had broken glass from beer bottles covering the kitchen floor and trash piled up in the corner.

Police arrested Anderson on arrival, and he admitted to leaving the children alone in the past, including a previous incident where the children had wandered along Glendale Avenue and had to be returned by a neighbor who recognized them.

Anderson also stated that he was sick to his stomach and the incident was “stupid,” the court document states.

A neighbor told police Anderson had asked her to watch his children, but she refused because he was “always asking her to watch the children,” the court document states.

But Amaya Jacobs, who lives in an apartment unit near Anderson, said she often saw the children under the watchful eye of their father.

“They don't seem to be neglected in any way, shape or form, “ Jacobs, 26, said of the kids.

Jacobs said that her two children would play with Anderson's kids, and she felt safe with Anderson watching over them.

According to the court document, Anderson's children, ages 4, 3, 3 and 1, were very dirty and their diapers were soiled. There were additional dirty diapers in the sink, and neither of the two children in the apartment had shoes on.

The two children found on the road had been alone for nine-and-a-half hours before being discovered, and court documents state they could have been killed or seriously injured when they ran in front of a car on the access road to the freeway.

Anderson was arrested on two counts of child abuse. The mother of the children had not yet been located and Anderson was still in jail as of Friday morning, Phoenix Det. Reuben Gonzales said.

Jacobs said it was odd that the house was described as so dirty, because Anderson was often seen cleaning it.

“Me personally, I feel bad for them kids because they're in the system,” Jacobs said, referring to CPS. “The system is not healthy for kids.”

http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix...nabandoned.html

[brnidokiegurl 0]

fine parents they both are (not) lets hope they dont have any more

[Nagishkaw 510]

My ex, the old Indian man....his folks were drunks ( and all the kids ended up being drunks and dead, too ) . When the kids were all under the age of 8, the youngest was 2, their parents went out and left them alone while they went out on a 3 week drunk. The neighbours found the oldest begging for food and called the authorities. The state came in and placed the children in foster homes ( They remained in foster care until they maxed out ) and the parents were never prosecuted. This was back in the late 50's though. I never can understand people who do this to little kids!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

My ex, the old Indian man....his folks were drunks ( and all the kids ended up being drunks and dead, too ) . When the kids were all under the age of 8, the youngest was 2, their parents went out and left them alone while they went out on a 3 week drunk. The neighbours found the oldest begging for food and called the authorities. The state came in and placed the children in foster homes ( They remained in foster care until they maxed out ) and the parents were never prosecuted. This was back in the late 50's though. I never can understand people who do this to little kids!

Alcoholism is a dreadful disease. My ex-wife was a child of alcoholic parents. They would leave the kids home alone at night while they hit the bars. The repercussions followed all the children into adulthood...one of them ended up shot dead in an alley - after a lifetime of drug addiction.

[Amby 490]

this is a great example why some people shouldn't breed

[Nagishkaw 510]

0r drink.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

0r drink.

Amen to that, sister.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

fine parents they both are (not) lets hope they dont have any more

and i'm certain our tax dollars at work too.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

fine parents they both are (not) lets hope they dont have any more

Ha. I think the track record speaks to the contrary. 4, 3, 3, 1. I bet she is pregnant now. Birth control is probably some unintelligible Urdu phrase to them.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

fine parents they both are (not) lets hope they dont have any more

Ha. I think the track record speaks to the contrary. 4, 3, 3, 1. I bet she is pregnant now. Birth control is probably some unintelligible Urdu phrase to them.

maybe that's why she didn't want to leave the bar, she's working on #5

[natty bumppo 297]

fine parents they both are (not) lets hope they dont have any more

Ha. I think the track record speaks to the contrary. 4, 3, 3, 1. I bet she is pregnant now. Birth control is probably some unintelligible Urdu phrase to them.

maybe that's why she didn't want to leave the bar, she's working on #5

another mothers day cheque ...

[Dr. Obvious 49]

fine parents they both are (not) lets hope they dont have any more

Ha. I think the track record speaks to the contrary. 4, 3, 3, 1. I bet she is pregnant now. Birth control is probably some unintelligible Urdu phrase to them.

maybe that's why she didn't want to leave the bar, she's working on #5

another mothers day cheque ...

Heh, though I thought also that if I had 4 kids in 3 years, maybe I would also be at the bar. I am still fairly certain No. 5 is on the horizon. They don't seem like people who learn from their mistakes.

[palilover 1]

fine parents they both are (not) lets hope they dont have any more

Ha. I think the track record speaks to the contrary. 4, 3, 3, 1. I bet she is pregnant now. Birth control is probably some unintelligible Urdu phrase to them.

maybe that's why she didn't want to leave the bar, she's working on #5

another mothers day cheque ...

Heh, though I thought also that if I had 4 kids in 3 years, maybe I would also be at the bar. I am still fairly certain No. 5 is on the horizon. They don't seem like people who learn from their mistakes.

Obviously not. The father said he was sick to his stomachea and the incident was stpid. yet he's done it before? People like this make a good case for neutering:)

[DeadPoolX 9]

this is a great example why some people shouldn't breed

I know it would be exceedinly unpopular, but I almost think people should be required to pass some form of psychological examination before having children. Yes, I know it's our "right" to have kids, but they're not playthings -- it's a huge responsibility and maybe it might sound like fun or interesting to have a child or two, but once it happens, what if you find you hate it? You can't "return" them like you can a television! You're stuck with him or her until they turn at least 18 (and most of us are smart enough to realize that parenting doesn't stop when they become "legal" or go off to college).

I think some people have kids for either the wrong reasons or simply due to carelessness. I really don't mean to trample on the "breeding rights" of others, but shouldn't the child have the right to be brought up in a home that actually wanted him or her, so that he or she will be raised with care?

[jundp 191]

this is a great example why some people shouldn't breed

I know it would be exceedinly unpopular, but I almost think people should be required to pass some form of psychological examination before having children. Yes, I know it's our "right" to have kids, but they're not playthings -- it's a huge responsibility and maybe it might sound like fun or interesting to have a child or two, but once it happens, what if you find you hate it? You can't "return" them like you can a television! You're stuck with him or her until they turn at least 18 (and most of us are smart enough to realize that parenting doesn't stop when they become "legal" or go off to college).

I think some people have kids for either the wrong reasons or simply due to carelessness. I really don't mean to trample on the "breeding rights" of others, but shouldn't the child have the right to be brought up in a home that actually wanted him or her, so that he or she will be raised with care?

We need a license to own a dog or a cat in my county....why not to have kids?