Oklahoma City police arrested two parents this week after their toddler-aged children were discovered wandering outside in near-freezing temperatures without proper clothing. Christina Dickenson, 22, and Phillip Welch, 21, are currently held at the Oklahoma County Detention Center, each facing one count of child neglect.
The incident began on February 20 when officers responded to a welfare check at a local residence. According to the Oklahoma City Police Department, officers arrived to find two toddlers alone in the street.
Reports from KOKH indicate that one child was wearing pajamas, while the second child was found wearing only a t-shirt and a diaper.
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Accordign to reports, the temperature in Oklahoma City dropped to a low of 27 degrees in the late morning, reaching a maximum high of 51 degrees by the evening.
While on the scene, officers also located a dog near the children. Police used the animal to help identify Dickenson and Welch as the owners before determining the pair were also the parents of the toddlers.
Following an investigation into the children’s welfare and the conditions in which they were found, authorities took the couple into custody.
Jail records show Dickenson and Welch were officially booked on Wednesday. Both defendants remain in custody with a bond set at $50,000 cash or bail.
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