CHICAGO
(Reuters)
- A Chicago man was
arrested for
endangering the life of his children because he had turned his
home
into a chicken coop, police said Thursday.
Police investigating barnyard sounds in a neighborhood west of
downtown Chicago said they looked in a window of a house
and saw chickens in cages and others running freely about the
house.
When they entered the home they found Juan Valdez, 29, and his
four children, ages 5, 4, 2 and 9 months, living in ''deplorable
conditions,'' a police spokesman said.
Police said the children and their mother, who was not
identified, were taken to a hospital to be evaluated and then
released.
The children were then turned over to child welfare officials.
The mother was not charged, but police said they did not have
more information about her.
Valdez was arrested Wednesday and charged with four counts of
endangering the life and health of children, which is a
misdemeanor charge. Valdez was ordered to report to court in
April for a hearing.
Ninety-three birds, including chickens, roosters, hens, pheasant
and quail, were confiscated by the city's animal control unit.
Police said they had not determined why the man was keeping the
livestock in his home.
