A U-Haul truck is supposed to carry furniture and boxes, not children, and a dog in dangerous heat. But when officers checked the back of this truck, they found something deeply disturbing. >> To the car, cuz this is a bite dog, and he will bite you if you do anything stupid. No, we're not doing that. Stand in front of the car. >> They're in the back of a U-Haul, and it's 90° outside. They got nothing back there. You got a dog and four kids back there. Hey guys, on August 27th, 2026, officers stopped a U-Haul truck during a traffic stop [music] and soon discovered several people, children, and a dog inside the cargo area. The conditions inside raised serious concerns about the safety of the kids and the animal, while officers also discovered [music] other evidence that made the stop even more serious. Let's see how a routine traffic stop exposed [music] a shocking situation and led to multiple criminal charges. What's up, guys? Hi. >> Jenkins with the sheriff's office. The reason I stopped here today, okay, >> one, okay, you got three people in here in two seats. In addition to that, whenever you took that turn, okay, you cross over that white solid line. Okay, it is a bridge driver's license, ID cards, and then the rental agreement on the e-haul as well. Agreement. Where you guys come from? Um, >> no. I don't know. >> Headed to me heads and then we're going to her dad's. >> That's fine. I got you. You guys don't have anything in here you're not supposed to have, do you? >> No. >> Nothing at all. >> No. >> You guys got IDs, driver's license, anything like that? >> Uh, I got to find one, but give me a second. >> I'm pulling out the lease agreement. You >> guys don't have any warrants or anything, do you? >> No. >> Okay. Cuz you're super nervous. >> Why you so nervous? Because I hate gobs. >> Why do you hate gobs? >> I'm not out here trying to cause an issue or anything like that. Good idea, Anya. >> Last you guys headed to visit me. >> Chris stayed with my dad. You >> guys going to dropping this off at the meat market? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> When did you pick this thing up? >> Yes. When are you supposed to drop it off? >> Saturday. >> Give me your phone, man. You got your ID on there. >> Do you have an ID, man? >> Oh, there you go. You're 15. Okay. Do you have an ID? >> Yeah. Well, >> how what takes you guys up to Michigan? >> My dad? >> Your dad? >> You just I'll be back with you guys. Just one second real quick. What's up, man? >> What's the suspicion of? >> What's the suspicion of? Yeah, >> I was asking him a question. >> Just stand just stand in front of the car. I'll talk to you in a second. Okay. >> Hey, just move closer to the car. Hey, move closer. Everybody needs to stay close to the car cuz this is a bite dog and he will bite you if you do anything stupid. No, we're not doing that. Stand in front of the car. You can get your phone when we're done. >> An officer can stop a vehicle when there is a lawful reason such as a traffic violation. And during the stop, officers can ask for identification and investigate what happened. So, vehicle search usually requires [music] consent, a warrant, or another legal exception. You know, simply acting nervous does not automatically mean that someone committed a crime. >> Okay, so here's the we're going to search this thing. Before we search it, I give people the option, okay? If they're just honest with me, we can work with you, okay? We're not worried about weed. If you got a dime bag of weed in there, that's cool. We'll get you taken care of in there. >> We don't we don't do weed. I I swear to God. >> Okay. Well, you just told me that you were living with a bunch of methheads. Okay. >> No, I said we were staying with me heads. That's why we went >> That's what That's what I'm asking. So, is there any meth in the car? >> No. No. What happened was we were staying with [ __ ] methheads. We don't do the [ __ ] >> Okay. >> They were trying to get us to do it. We left there to go to her dad's because we refused to do the [ __ ] >> and we didn't want our kid our kids around. >> Yeah. >> That's what I was trying to tell you. Not that we're the [ __ ] on it. You can drug test me right now. >> Please test me right now. >> I never said you guys were using meth. You just said that you were around a bunch of methheads. That's why I asked if there was meth in the car. >> I didn't know they was on meth and I went and Yeah. >> Okay. You guys don't have anything on you, do you? >> No. >> Nothing at all? >> No. >> Okay. >> No. >> Cool. Just stand here. Okay. Don't do anything dumb. 1284 1760. 225 out here, please. >> What? What? >> All right, you guys. I'll just stay back there. Okay. >> Okay. >> Just You're just being detained. You're not under arrest. Okay. I just got to figure out what's going on here. >> Ma'am, are you okay? I'm talking to you. >> Hey, are you okay? >> What? >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Do you Do you guys need an ambulance or anything? Does she need an ambulance? >> You need an ammunition or something. >> 760. >> So, I've got multiple subjects in the back of a U-Haul. One complaining of being exhausted and needing water. And there's a medical issue possibly. >> The biggest lie ever is that guy saying he doesn't do drugs. Like not a single tooth in their mouths and they still are claiming that they don't do meth. >> They've got four children and two adults in the back. >> All right. >> Explain this to me. I'm serious. >> The only thing >> All right. We've got an ambulance coming. They're going to check you guys out. Okay. and we're going to get everything figured out. >> I need >> I need water. >> I know you do. We're going to get you guys. We're going to get everything figured out, girls. But >> how old are you? >> Me? >> Yeah. >> Do you have an ID? >> I I'm going to get you I got an ambulance coming. They're going to get you taken care of. Okay. >> What's that? >> I know. We're gonna Do you guys Are you guys all thirsty and hungry? Okay. How long have you guys been back here? >> Not very long. >> Okay. >> What's your name? >> What? >> Heather. >> Okay. Listen, we don't need you to have an attitude with me right now. >> She's not. She wanted to be me. >> You've got four kids back here. >> Do you have any warrants or anything? >> No. >> Okay. How old are you? >> She's 25. He's 25. If one of If one of them would have died, that would have been your ass. >> They're not going to die. >> They're in the back of a U-Haul and it's 90° outside. They got nothing back there. You got a dog and four kids back there. >> Have we ascertained what that smell is yet? >> Yeah. A mixture of baby uh diaper or diapers in the in the front that are filled. Not filled, but have clear signs of feces and urine. Um, and then the people in the back, the kids have been back there for They're coming from Louisiana, going to Michigan. Yeah. Going to Michigan. >> [ __ ] >> And they've got nothing back there. Um, obviously you see the female in the back. >> Uhhuh. >> And then you've got the kids back there who I open it up. They're like, "We're thirsty. We're hungry." >> Dude, I'm mad. >> I am too. That pissed me off, man. That is That That is so bad. >> I just saw feet when you opened that. I said >> I thought it they were dead. This is complete [ __ ] This is This is He's He's going He's going for every single kid that's back there, too. >> My thought My thought process was take them two to jail for every single kid that's back there. And then I want to get these kids to a hotel and so they can chill and get everything figured out. I'm not going to take the two adults in the back. >> The dog and those kids should all be placed with [music] a better family, man. Arrest every adult involved. This is absolutely disgusting. That is no life for any child. What the [ __ ] The dog looks way too overheated, man. Those kids and the puppy do not deserve to be here. Like, they need to be somewhere safe with a better family cuz they're not. >> Okay. But so they'll have they'll have adults with the children so they can work on getting something somebody up here to get everybody. >> Um, >> apparently they got family in Creep. >> I heard one. >> Yeah, they're going somewhere. They were going >> they're going to Michigan. >> Some like Michigan or Northern >> said their grandparents are in Creepore. One of the kids was calling his grandpa. >> Okay, then we could Yeah, let me see what I can do. I I'd have to go to the PD and get like the transient money and stuff like that, but if that's what you want to do, I can >> Yeah, I mean, we could just put them in one room and just >> Well, it's better than a U-Haul. >> Huh? >> I was asking if I could talk to >> Yeah. >> Is there an option to where my dad can come get them and we can just go stay at my sisters? >> No. So, here's what's going to happen. You're going to jail. Both of you are. Okay. No questions asked. both are going to jail for it. Um, in addition to that, what we're going to do is we're going to put these kids and two adults in a hotel, okay? The kids are going to be in a hotel with two adults, okay? While you guys are sitting in jail. And then while they're in the hotel room, you guys are they're going to work on getting a hold of somebody to come and get them. But we cannot let this thing roll down the road and you guys do not have any any any sort of transportation. Okay? This is completely unacceptable. And I get it. You're going through hard [ __ ] but this you could have killed one of How much is your [ __ ] ball going to be? >> Huh? >> How much is my bond? >> There's no bond in the state of Illinois. So, you're going to see a judge. >> When will that be? >> I don't know. Probably in the morning. But this is completely unacceptable. You could have killed one of those kids. You could have killed that dog. >> How was that? When I had water, I had the fan back there and I had a hole where they could breathe. >> Dude, no one wants to agree to it. >> Do you understand how ridiculous this is? >> Okay, so >> not only that, >> not only that, but do you know how disgusting that U-Haul is? And you got kids sitting in there. Give me a second. >> You got diapers back there that have piss and [ __ ] in them. >> There should be no diapers back there because Hayden's potty trained. >> There's diapers sitting in the front of the U-Haul >> where he was just changed. >> Sitting on top of diapers that have [ __ ] on him. >> No, he just changed him at >> I'm not going to argue with you guys about it. You're going to jail. Did you not discharge your body before? >> Go check those cameras. >> You know, come on. >> You're about to piss me off. >> You already done pissed everybody here off. >> Officers can take immediate steps to protect children when they have a reasonable reason to believe that the children are in serious danger. Depending on the situation in the state law, this can include contacting child welfare services, finding a safe place for the children, or making an arrest if there [music] is probable cause for a crime being committed. Now, the exact charges and custody decisions would depend on the investigation and the court process. And under state penal codes and child welfare statutes, transporting children inside an unventilated commercial cargo container transforms a routine traffic check into an emergency child endangerment case. Under statutory state penal codes and child protection standards, housing minor children inside an unventilated enclosed commercial cargo area during severe heat creates an immediate life-threatening environment. In landmark child abuse and felony endangerment proceedings, adults accused of placing minors in hazardous vehicle compartments argued in court that moving passengers in a cargo box was merely a temporary transportation infraction rather than criminal cruelty. However, appellet courts firmly rejected those arguments under statutory neglect laws. The judges established that exposing children to excessive environmental hazards and extreme temperature exposure satisfies all statutory elements of felony child endangerment. Furthermore, courts established that observing these extreme conditions grants law enforcement mandatory emergency authority to immediately seize custody of the minors, notify protective services, and place all responsible adults under arrest. Yeah, because I made one mistake and Louisiana. >> You made you made you made a mistake that was >> a danger to everybody inside. >> Yeah. Okay. Explain this. How the [ __ ] did Louisiana tell me to do it? Then >> they did not tell you to do this. >> Yes. They said they said be safe. Make sure they're [ __ ] they have drinks and [ __ ] and it should it'll be all right until we got to where we were going. >> I'm I I'm I'm not going to not going to argue with you. >> I got [ __ ] witnesses, dude. >> That's great. You can have witnesses, but I'm not letting this go down the road. and you're going to jail. So that's it. There's no arguing about it. You're not talking yourself out of it. >> Love you. >> Officer, can I get my animal head? >> I love you. >> Are these your kids? >> All of them. >> All five of him, the teenager. Your mom had a front here. >> You guys are probably only going to get booked in relationship. >> I don't [ __ ] tell, Austin. I have told you [ __ ] how many times? >> I said am I? >> I said we're going to get caught. >> Did I not, Heather? I said we're going to get [ __ ] caught. And what did we do? Get caught in Illinois like we got caught in Louisiana. Yes. >> I'm not going to lie to you guys. I did tell him I did not want to go. I got I got a phone. We're going to get caught. >> So, was that is that your husband? >> Boyfriend. >> Uh well separated. >> Him and her are together. >> Okay. So, how do how >> that's my baby daddy to all five of my kids. I am with her and them. I'm the mom. I'm I'm his stepmom. The reason why I say I'm his stepmom, I've been in that boy's life since he was 3 years old. >> Are you going to leave your mom? >> Yeah. My phone's in the U-Haul. You can take my phone. >> Where's my old dance? >> I don't know. >> It's in the It's in the U-Haul >> cuz I'm taking that. Yeah, I will give you >> Make sure you take care of everything. >> Make sure you take care of my dogs. >> She clearly seems to need a lot of support. That man's behavior is horrible, man. How awful. She may need a guardian or another person to help look after her. So, this was not completely unexpected. It sounds like they already knew that there was a problem, but they just kept going anyway. Make sure you take care of her and my fluffy not >> which we we want to help these kids out. Okay. And I think based on everything that we have here, I think it would be a good idea for them to go get checked out at the hospital and just make sure they're medically cleared, especially being in the back of that U-Haul for as long as they were without water or anything like that. >> Based on that, would are you okay? Would you be cool with them going to the hospital to get cleared and be be cool? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Do you So, you're good with all five kids going over to the hospital and just getting checked out and cleared? >> Yeah. Um, they need dressed though. >> Yeah. >> They need to get clothes on. >> Okay. >> She said she's good with them going. >> Heather, please. They're going to they're going to take these kids to the hospital and get them checked out immediately. And then um we got how many kids were back there? Four. >> Four back there. >> At least get the kids checked out. >> Yeah, for sure. Yeah. So, we got four kids back there. >> I got approval for a hotel room. >> Okay. >> So, I just got to get >> So, once they get medically cleared by the hospital and everything's good, then we'll just pick them up from the hospital and take them over to the Super Eight so they can sit down and >> kind of relax. You're suspended. Heather's suspended. Your passenger suspended. >> How is she suspended? >> I don't know. She's >> She just got her license. Like, >> she literally told me in the back, "My license isn't good before she gave me her name." >> I'm talking about Sabrina. She just got her license not too long ago. Sabrina driving school. >> You think Sabrina's capable of driving this thing right now? >> What? She's not going to jail? >> No. The two in the back. Nobody in the back's going to jail. They're They didn't. >> Sabrina is the skinny one. The one in the red shirt. >> Okay. Which which one's Heather? >> The one in the King's Sports Bro. Unless I know she had a license. >> So, who's the chick in the back? What's her name? >> Cheyenne. >> Cheyenne. >> Yeah. >> And Sabrina is >> I think Cheyenne has a license. I don't know. >> So, Heather is the one with the sports bra on. That's your girlfriend. >> Yes. >> Okay. Heather Heather is Heather is suspended as well. >> Is she? >> Yeah. >> Oh, I didn't know it. >> They're going to take they're going to take everybody to the hospital, get them medically cleared to make sure that they're good since they've been back there. >> I told the officer and the EMS I'm need. Yeah, you cuz you were sitting up front. >> These people have about three brain cells between them. It's disgusting. You [music] can't even take care of yourself and you bring a dog into this mess. There's trash everywhere. Well, the adults clearly don't understand the harm this situation can cause. You know what a terrible situation for the kids and the dog? >> You know, like I told them, if I wanted to go to the hospital, I'd slip out of >> Have you ever Have you ever been in trouble before arrested or anything like that? >> Probation. I'm on probation right now. >> Okay. You you don't have any you're not wanted or anything like that? >> Not that I know of. >> All right. Your driver's license are you out of Kansas as well? >> Uh I was born in Michigan. >> Okay. >> You have a valid license? >> No. >> Well, then where's our stuff going to go? >> Well, I'm going to >> So, we're going to leave it parked here and it's he's going to go with him to jail. And I will tell you this, what I would suggest you do is you guys seriously work on getting somebody up here to come and get these kids and everything. >> Well, we have plans on the uh grandfather, okay? >> And the uh >> Okay. Because because if that thing goes down the road and I see the kids back there again, >> I'm towing this thing. We're we're going to do this all over again. And it's I know you were in the back of there and I know you're you're a victim in this and and and whatnot, but I mean, you got to see it from our our our viewpoint, right? That that [ __ ] is completely unacceptable. You know, I understand you guys are trying to get to where you're going, but that's not the right way to do it. Okay, you guys are coming from Louisiana going to Michigan. Okay, if one of those kids would have died back there or that dog would have died back, anybody would have died back there, do you imagine what like the consequences of that would have been for these two? I mean, seriously, when I open up that when I open up the back and all I see is feet and then the kids are screaming that they're thirsty and they're hungry. I mean, how do you think that makes me feel? Right. >> Well, they just got done drinking. That's the thing. >> Well, you got to understand they're also kids and they're in the back of a >> U-Haul that's >> probably three times hotter in there than it is out here, you know, and it's pretty warm out and I can't imagine what it what it was like down in Louisiana. It's probably not cold. >> 140. >> When you have children, you should want to provide for them and give them a better future, not put their lives at risk while chasing meth. One person already has five probation cases. One child [music] is still in the dirty diaper. One person seems severely obsessed and the rest don't even seem to understand how serious this situation is either. >> And you guys are in the back of that. She is not a mom. She is his girlfriend. So she she just needs to go somewhere. She signed a refusal. She's good. There is a >> LCG. >> I got somebody in mine already. >> I don't have no insurance. >> What? >> I have no insurance. So I can't go to a hospital. >> I mean, if you got to go to a hospital, you got to go to a hospital. I wouldn't worry about your insurance. >> Okay, that's fine. And and I and I just told him that you sent a refusal. That means you're not going. >> You're going to go with him and you're going to get a room. What we're going to do is we're going to put you guys in a hotel room. You're going to go with him. He's going to drop you off at that hotel over there, that Super Eight. You guys are going to go to the Super Eight. You're going to get a room on us. When the when the children get cleared and these guys get out, you guys are all going to meet back as one big happy family out at the Super 8. >> Well, how are they going to get back to me? >> These guys? >> Yeah, >> they got two feet. take a walk >> with Sarah Pali. >> Well, I'm I'm trying to work with you. So, >> well, that's fine with me. It's just I got dogs. >> I know. And >> And you guys got the goddamn German. >> So, he doesn't have anything in the back of his car. So, he's going to take you over to the Super Eight. It's nice. >> That's not very friendly with that. >> If you want to go with him, he'll take you to Super Eight and then we'll get you rolling. Okay. >> Well, can I take the dog as well? >> Yeah. I mean, we don't have anywhere to go with him. >> Can I at least give my old man a kiss before I leave? >> He'll be out in like 2 hours. I understand that, but I still want to give him >> You could kiss him through the through the thing, through the partition. >> All of those adults should have been arrested, man. None of them should be treated like they had no choice. Like, they chose to ride in the back of that U-Haul and allow the kids and the [music] dog to stay back there, too. It was probably extremely hot inside, possibly around 110°. That's a terrible situation for children and animals. The suspects were charged with four counts of child endangerment and driving with a suspended license. According to information provided, the suspects pleaded guilty to all charges. Children depend on adults to provide a safe environment. Right? When children are placed in a dangerous situation, adults can face serious legal consequences. Police can also take steps to protect children when they believe the children may be in immediate danger. Depending on the circumstances, they can involve child welfare services, medical care, or an arrest when there's probable cause. The same goes for animals. You know, a pet also depends completely on its owner for basic care, especially during extreme heat. And driving with a suspended license can create another serious problem. If someone's not legally allowed to drive, getting behind the wheel can lead to another criminal charge and make an already bad situation worse. The biggest lesson here is simple. Children should never have to pay the price for an adult's choices. Putting children and a dog back with a U-Haul truck under those conditions was extremely dangerous, man. And whatever problems the adults were dealing with, the kids still need to come first. What do you think about this body cam? Do you think that the adults should have faced additional consequences for the conditions the children and the dog were found in? Share your thoughts in the comments. And if you enjoyed this body cam, hit like and subscribe [music] for more real police encounters. Check out the other shocking body cam videos on your screen, and I'll see you in the next