(CBS DETROIT) – Detroit police and Child Protective Services responded to a home on the city’s west side Monday evening after receiving reports that children were sleeping outside.
In a statement, the police said they were aware of the allegations and were actively investigating the circumstances.
Photos recently began circulating online about the allegations at a home on Leslie Street, but neighbors told CBS News Detroit it had been going on since September.
“I mean, the kids have been sleeping on the porch for months, so that’s what everyone sees. I get home from work late, so I get home around noon and I see them outside. They get a blanket out of their book bag, and they lay down outside and went to sleep,” said neighbor Elizabeth Jones. “We call the police, we call CPS, and no one does anything, so I just hope someone helps the kids because it’s cold right now.”
CBS News Detroit spoke with Marc D’Andre, who approached the home’s porch Saturday evening during a Facebook livestream to see if the children outside needed help. He said the wind chill at the time was 14 degrees. D’Andre said one teen refused any help, and his video has since gone viral, prompting more contact with local authorities.
‘All he said was, ‘I’m fine. I’m fine’, you know. I said, ‘Why are you here? What’s going on? What’s the reason?’ and all he said was ‘abuse’. So that’s the only other word he said other than ‘I’m fine’ and refusing help.” D’Andre said.
