Crime & Safety

Felony Child Endangerment, Drug Allegations in Windy Point Case

A 4-year-old child had a severely infected head wound from a dog bite in November and deputies reportedly found drugs in the home.

A Windy Point man and woman were behind bars Thursday on suspicion of felony child cruelty and drug offenses, and a 4-year-old was in protective custody recovering from a severely infected dog-bite head wound, according to the Sheriff's Department.

The 4-year-old was found wandering the streets in Windy Point, the Highway 111 community east of Whitewater Dunes, and deputies were summoned to the 22800 block of Sterling Avenue about 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sgt. Alan Meservey of the sheriff's Cabazon Station said.

A concerned citizen who called 9-1-1 was unable to alert the child's parents at their residence, Meservey said in a statement.

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Deputies found the child with what appeared to be an old but significant head wound, and the child was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs for treatment and an examination, Meservey said.

"An investigation revealed the child had been attacked and bitten by the family dog in November 2011, and at that time the child received several scalp sutures," Meservey said. "However, no follow-up care was provided to the child, and the injury became severely infected."

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Child Protection Services took custody of the child to ensure proper medical care, Meservey said.

The child's parents, (removed), and Taylor Monnet Vandermoon 26, were eventually located, detained at the hospital, and found to be under the influence of unspecified drugs, according to Meservey.

Personnel from the Cabazon Station, a Drug Endangered Children unit, and Riverside County Child Protection Services served a search warrant at the family home on Sterling Avenue, Meservey said.

During the search, remnants of an illegal marijuana grow were found in a bedroom, along with equipment to manufacture other drugs, Meservey said.

"The home was extremely unkempt and contained no fresh food," Meservey said. "It was unsafe for any occupation, especially that of children."

The woman and (removed) were arrested and booked on suspicion of felony child cruelty, child neglect and manufacturing a controlled substance, according to inmate records.

(Removed) was also booked on suspicion of three felonies for possessing ammunition and a knife.

They were held early Thursday at Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, where bail for each was $100,000, according to inmate records. They had court appearances scheduled Thursday morning in Banning.

Windy Point is in an unincorporated area on Highway 111 between Whitewater Dunes and Palm Springs, in the east San Gorgonio Pass.

Anyone with further information was urged to call the Cabazon Station, (951) 922-7100, the Riverside County Sheriff's Dispatch Center, 1-800-950-2444, or send an email to CabazonStation@RiversideSheriff.org.


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