Chasidy L. Roberts, 41, and Scott E. Eblen, 47, both of Creston, were taken into custody at approximately 6 a.m. May 29, on Union County warrants charging each with four counts of child endangerment.
According to Union County Sheriff’s Office reports at approximately 1:30 a.m. May 26, deputies respondedto 3 Mile Valley Point Campground for a call made by child(ren) who had been assaulted by intoxicated parents and locked the adults out of the camper. The adults were reportedly trying to get into the camper to hurt them.
When deputies arrived, four female juveniles exited a camper and ran to the patrol unit. An adult female, later identified as Roberts, and an adult male, later identified as Eblen, were observed inside a truck and both appeared to be very intoxicated, having bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech and difficulty walking and maintaining balance. Roberts and Eblen were told to stay in the truck, and two of the children were told to sit in the patrol unit, out of severe weather conditions.
As deputies attempted to talk to the other two children, Roberts and Eblen exited the truck and had to be told multiple times to get back into the vehicle. While speaking with the juveniles, deputies were informed both Roberts and Eblen had struck one child in the face.
Roberts again exited the truck and deputies had to walk behind her to ensure she would not walk toward the juveniles. After Roberts got into the truck, deputies attempted to close the door but Roberts used her leg to block it. She was told multiple times to move her leg but refused and began yelling and pounding her fists on the dash of the truck.
At this point, Roberts began screaming she wanted a dog one of the juveniles had leashed. Deputies to put the dog in the camper. As she was doing so, she told the deputy, who was unable to see the driver’s door of the truck, that Eblen had exited vehicle. Deputies approached Eblen and told him to return to the vehicle, but Eblen informed them of his citizenship status and said he wanted to go in the camper. Since the children were not inside, Eblen and Roberts were told they could go inside. Roberts responded by telling law enforcement they could take her daughter but not her dog.
The children were transported to the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Because none of the children are shared by Roberts and Eblen, their biological parents were contacted and advised of the situation and the concern for their safety and well-being for the night. Deputies again spoke with two of the children and both stated one of the children was struck by Roberts (her mother) and Eblen (her stepfather), had initially grabbed the same child by her sweatshirt collar and pulled her around before being stopped by Roberts. The girls said it was after this Roberts and Eblen stepped outside of the camper and were locked out. When they attempted to get back in, the children called 911.
Roberts and Eblen were transported to the Union County Jail, where they were both released from after each posted $8,000 cash or surety bond.