Toddler Found in Cage; Father Arrested for Neglect
An Oklahoma father of three was arrested after police found his baby daughter locked naked in a dog cage.
William Lewallen Sr., father of the abused child, was found on Monday asleep in what Tulsa police say was a drug or alcohol "induced stupor."
According to the Examiner, three children were discovered in Lewallen's home that included his 18-month-old daughter found locked in a metal dog cage, 4-year old daughter naked outside on a cold afternoon, and a 3-year-old child asleep inside.
The oldest child was found outside by a neighbor who called police when the child's father didn't wake up after repeated knocks on the door.
"All I could hear was the baby saying, daddy let me back in. I'm cold, I'm scared. Please let me back in," said the neighbor who found the child.
Police responded and were unable to wake Lewallen from outside the home.
"One of the officers looked inside and saw a small child in a dog cage," said Tulsa police spokesperson Officer Leland Ashley.
When police forced their way into the residence, they found the baby in the cage covered in feces as well as a 3-year-old child sleeping in an adjacent room.
According to Officer Ashley, Lewallen was found asleep "in an alcohol- or narcotics-induced stupor" and the children displayed no physical injury.
The Department of Human Services has taken custody of the three children while their father has been arrested for neglect.
The children's mother returned from work to find police leaving the scene. She was not arrested.
"You have to give credit to that neighbor who acted and did not ignore the situation," Officer Ashley said.
The father is being held on $50,000 bond in the Tulsa County jail. His court date is scheduled for Nov. 19.
