We found a pipe next to bed. It's in plain view. Right next to the bed on the floor. >> What did I do? What am I doing this for? >> Never seen kids outside playing. Didn't even know the kids were in that house. >> On the 2nd of February, 2024, St. Petersburg officers responded to a home after a neighbor reported a child wandering outside. What they discovered inside would lead to multiple arrests and a disturbing child neglect investigation. >> You're not under arrest, but we do want to talk to you about what's going on. So, with that being said, some of the questions I might ask may to somebody seem they seem incriminating. So, I'm going to read you your rights just to talk to you, okay? Doesn't mean you're under arrest. You're not under arrest. You're not in handcuffs. Do you understand that? Okay. Having these rights in mind, do you wish to talk to me? >> About what? >> Uh just about the whole situation here. >> Whole situation? Yeah, I was asleep. >> Sure. >> You know, I was ready to go to work. >> They're going to take you to jail. >> Huh? >> They're taking you to jail. >> So, this is your house? >> It's my mom's house. >> Your mom talks to you, okay. How long you've been living here? >> Since October. Just doing this. >> 3 months? >> Yeah. Same time my mom moved over here with my mom. >> Okay. How long has she been living here? >> She came over with drugs. She got out of the state. >> She moved 3 months ago? >> No, same time. I put all of them here. I take care of everybody. >> Okay. I'm sorry. That That's my fault. I missed it. So, when did you start living here? >> 3 months. I was staying I over there 5180 place. >> So, we're all of us over there. >> Okay. >> So, what happened is Yeah, I just moved in with my mom and over here. >> That was 3 months ago? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, she's been staying here about 3 months. Um the kids, they're yours and hers? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. How long have you guys been together? >> 3 months. >> 5, 6 years. >> 5, 6 years? >> Yeah. >> Okay. What She uses, yes or no? >> No, that's me. >> I was doing the same. She's an addict, so I had to get out. >> Okay. So, >> she You said took her to the medical clinic? >> Yeah. >> Um when's the last time she went? >> Yesterday. >> Yesterday? Okay, do you know if her to have used since yesterday? >> Huh? >> Did she use? >> I don't I don't know. She she's all the time I can't I can't I can't maybe in the telephone. >> She what? >> Oh. >> As officers continued speaking with those inside the home, they had already documented mold, rotting food, and a cracked pipe in plain view. The conversation provided additional context, but investigators still needed to verify what they were being told. >> She had a illness, right? >> She what? >> She said she had a illness. That's just >> I'm sorry, maybe me I'm just not understanding you. >> too. That's all it was. >> Okay, it's an illness. Okay. Um and they have what do you mean bad days? >> Yes. >> Okay, so she went to the clinic yesterday. Did she use yesterday, do you know of? >> I don't know. I was at work. >> Okay. What do you do for work? >> I drive a taxi. >> Oh, you drive a taxi. Okay. When we came in, you guys were passed out. We knocked the first time. Was there an incident prior to us getting here with one of the children being outside? >> No. >> Nothing at all? >> No. We I was busy. I was just three months. She would never been outside the house now. >> We got called about an hour before we woke you guys up. Probably about 15 minutes before we woke you up. >> I heard that. And the door should run the situation that door was that when they came it was old house. Half house is about 70. >> I understand. >> It was knocked off the hinges by one of them. >> Okay. >> What was that accident that brought you to my house? >> What happened? >> They banged on the door and knocked off the top hinges which caused the the crack in the wood and >> So I I I understand that cuz we were here for the overdose last week. >> Yeah, and that was that situation. >> My question is is we were called here before before we woke you guys up today. >> Uh-huh. >> We were called here about 15 minutes prior. >> Uh-huh. >> Okay. Somebody called in and said there was a child walking around out front and then you came out and addressed the child and brought the child back in. >> I didn't come out the door until you guys came in the house. They told me so >> I went out the door. That's a total lie. That's just somebody lying to you. Okay, the child was not out the door. >> And I didn't come out the door until until you guys were lying. >> So, the child wasn't out the door. >> out the door. >> Okay. Um We found a pipe in there. She said she smokes She said you guys both smoke. When's the last time you smoked? >> Smoked yesterday. >> Yesterday? So, before you guys went to bed when you woke up? >> yesterday afternoon. >> Okay. Um We found a next to that. It's in plain view. Right next to that on the floor. Okay, is that common where you leave your pipe? >> No. >> Okay. Let me ask you about now, again, where she's sitting on the couch, there's that folding tray table. There's a crack pipe on it. Okay, who smoked crack? >> I didn't. >> I understand it's not you. I have a feeling based on her priors and everything it's her. Did she smoke crack yesterday? >> I don't know. >> So, does she normally leave her crack pipes out? In your home? >> No. No. And crack pipes do not stay out. >> Um where did Where'd she go? >> Uh roll call, but we figured that situation. That's why I keep them. >> Are they They're both in my car? Okay. >> She's going to take charge once we get to the the officer. She's She's still attached to the >> Okay. >> Investigators begin asking more direct questions about the conditions they encountered inside the residence. The answers could play an important role in determining [music] responsibility. >> Um So, are you aware of the conditions of the house that they've been The kids have been staying with you for 3 months with you guys? >> Yeah, I just want to put it in the cabinet. You know what I mean? Everything was clean when I left. The door was up and it was fine before that. It just happened over the last week and a half. I didn't have anybody to fix it. So, I'm trying to get stuff fixed in my mom house. Trying to get stuff done. And just I would just say that. >> Let me ask you your honest opinion. This this is a question as a father myself look from the outside looking in do you think or would you have ever thought if you had kids you would let your kids live in a house like this? And I and I get she like she said it's not like this all the time but if you walked into this house right now and said there's two kids living here would you sit and think yeah that's normal? >> With concerns for the children's welfare at the center of the investigation, officers proceed with an arrest. Authorities say their work is far from over as the case continues to develop. >> Take this thing off? >> I I can't. >> I just want to pinch you cuz there you go put it below your bending. I don't want to lock these so they don't get tight. Listen is there anything inside your bra anything you're hiding in there? >> I can't >> bring anything to that jail? >> I can't feel it. I can't feel it. Can I can I look? >> you normally keep >> stuff in there? Yes. >> Okay. >> Can I check can I check to see if there's anything there? >> Are you are you do you know if there's anything in there or you know? >> I don't think there is anything in there. >> You don't think or you don't know? >> I don't think so. >> Okay well that's fine. >> I don't want to get another infraction or something. >> I have one. >> Okay so here's the deal. When we take you up to jail we'll tell them that you may have something in your bra but that we weren't able to search you here and then do we know about it and they know about it it's not an introduction. >> I can't check it right now. >> So we'll let you check we're going to put you in the van so let you check it before you get in the van, okay? >> Okay. >> And then we'll go over this then, okay? All right. >> Okay. >> Show us there's nothing in there. >> I don't know I don't know I don't know. >> Okay fair enough. All right. >> Are you going to give me a chance to call someone, please? >> Yeah we'll Here I'll tell you what. I'm just going to let you check it now and then if there's anything >> Okay. >> Okay I'll tell you what we will uh There we go. 73 15 two times, please. >> Which one? >> This one. >> This one? >> Yes. >> That one's actually looser than the other one. That's super loose. I wasn't even trying to do that. >> please? >> Huh? >> Can you turn around please? >> One. >> You got to What would you think? >> It's not a good situation. I'm not I'm I don't know what this what I was doing. >> It's what? I ain't like that. I'm just asking your opinion. All right, what is your first name? >> Nathan. >> Nathan, all right. Give me your first name, Nathan. I'm going to have you put your hands behind your back, okay? >> What did I do? What am I doing? >> You guys are both being arrested. I'll tell you what, you stay cooperative. I got two pair of handcuffs. I see you're a bigger guy. >> I'm being arrested for what? Huh? >> You got some big wrists, too, man. >> What's the case with my wife? >> tell you in a second. >> [ __ ] kidding me, man. >> All right, let me try to make sure this isn't lock up. Tell you what, if you sit tight, I got a couple of ankle cuffs. They're a little bit bigger. I'll grab them out of my car and we'll use those. Yeah, cuz I know these are Yeah, you guys are both going to be under arrest for child neglect, okay? >> Child neglect? >> Because the living conditions of the house are not feasible for children. Okay, there's obviously a reason we were Our initial plan was just to take the children. Um cuz they shouldn't be living here. You guys have paraphernalia that's easily accessible to them. You both passed out when we get here. The house is disgusting. You have mold, rotting food, >> That's been here before. Yeah, that's what I'm trying to >> Yeah, that's been here before we got here. I'm going to put her I'm going to put her in yours because I'm like he's probably going to go in mine. >> Kids were also here before that. >> Yeah, just for that room. >> Okay. >> So, you guys are both going to be under arrest for child neglect. >> What? >> And yep, and the children are going to be going to come with us. We've already contacted DCF. They're going to come grab the kids. >> Oh, yeah. >> All right. Let's take a walk over here. Put gloves on you. Going to search him. >> Nope. >> Give me one second. This officer is going to stand with you. I'm going to grab a different pair of cuffs. They're a little bit bigger. Thank you. >> Hopkins. You don't have anything sharp that's going to stab you. I'm just going to poke me stick me. Put your hands behind you. >> Leave those off now. Tell you what, man, this is what I have, okay? >> I'm just going to tell you honestly what they are. These are usually ankle cuffs. Okay, they're a little bit bigger. I'm going to cuff them together, and that's how we're going to secure you, okay? Cuz I mean you got big arms there. Okay. So, put these on before you take the other ones off. >> Okay. >> Get them on. Make sure your uh things are fully locked, or you're unlocked, I should say. Just uh put your arms out a little bit so that you can get those off for you. Just lock them. And then you can take those off. But uh come on. What's going on? Best thing to do is put your butt in first and then turn over. >> Yes, sir. >> So, we're going to fill the affidavits out for them so they can get going. Once that's done, we will take the kids out of the house. I'm going to try and call a detective to see if we can get an ISP car to come out and do it, cuz even if that girl comes out, no car seats are going to sit in there. I know. >> No, I'm saying I don't care about the home. I got I got to get that 730. >> Okay. >> I'm just saying that I can get get that. I'll call him. >> Okay. I'll I'll call him. I got it up already. >> Police expanded their inquiry by interviewing a neighbor who had lived next door for 11 years. Her answers would reveal something even more disturbing. Even seemingly routine observations can provide valuable context for the investigation. >> You said you lived here how many years? >> 11. >> 11 years and you've never seen them never seen kids outside playing. Didn't even know the kids were in that house. Ever? >> Didn't know they existed. >> Okay. >> When she told me that, I was shocked. >> And you said you never saw a woman at this house? Just a man? >> I just see a guy. >> Okay. >> And he walks down the street all the time and be driving a little Toyota Corolla sometime and that's it. >> Toyota Corolla and that's it? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. >> Never really ever seen nobody here but >> What does that man look like? Have you ever like seen him? >> He is I thought he's Last I seen him, he had like a like a nappy little short afro. >> Like a small afro? >> Yeah. Kind of light-skinned. >> Light-skinned? >> Um I'm taller than him. I'd say about so much height. Like about that. >> And you see him go in and out of the house or you see him just kind of walk past the house, make contact? >> Uh no, I see him walk I know he be there. >> Okay. >> Um that's all I know. >> Okay. >> Two caregivers were taken into custody and charged with child neglect. One of the suspects also faced an additional child charge as authorities continued reviewing the evidence collected during the case. If you enjoy this kind of content, please like and subscribe for more real-time body cam footage.