CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES

After running into roadblocks in getting answers about what CPS did to care for Ethan Belcher, Local 4 started asking questions about cases in the system.

After running into roadblocks in getting answers about what CPS did to care for Ethan Belcher, Local 4 started asking questions about cases in the system.

The mother of a 5-year-old who died in a horrifying case of child abuse was back in front of a judge.

Local 4 is continuing its look into the death of 5-year-old Ethan Belcher and whether changes are needed within Michigan’s Child Protective Services.

A 5-year-old was killed in Lincoln Park on Sunday and the case has prompted questions about Child Protective Services’ previous involvement.

If Child Protective Services and police were aware of allegations of ongoing abuse in a Wayne County home, why was a 5-year-old killed and a 3-year-old found badly injured?

Police are seeking information about a 13-year-old boy who went missing in Southfield.

New questions tonight following the gruesome discovery of a three-year-old boy found in a freezer on Detroit’s west side.

There is an over-representation of children of color in the foster care system in Michigan and a task force is making recommendations to prevent and eliminate systemic racism in the child protection system.

Darius Julius Hammond Swan is in custody Friday (March 4) on a $1M bond. Warren police and the U.S. Marshals picked Hammond-Swan up Friday after three-month-old twins were taken to Children’s Hospital with terrible injuries. One of the babies suffered a fractured skull while the other had fluid on the brain.

The assistant principal of Ecorse High School was arrested Monday on accusations that he committed sex crimes with a 10-year-old relative, officials said.

The Oxford school shooting survivors filed a lawsuit revealing new insight into the chaotic moments as the shooter opened fire. The suit also squarely places the blame on school employees who they claim didn’t do enough to stop it.

He is accused of causing multiple broken bones, a lacerated liver and brain injuries that left a 3-year-old boy comatose.

ALBION, Mich. – Michigan State Police have canceled an Endangered Missing Advisory for a five-week-old girl missing from Albion. The girl has been found and is safe, police said Friday morning. When the advisory was issued earlier on Friday, police ssaid Jakayla Shibrea Atchison, 26, had failed to comply with a court order to surrender 5-week-old Samira Lynn Blackmon to Child Protective Services. Atchison was last seen with Blackmon on Thursday night. More: Missing persons in Michigan

ALPENA, Mich. – An Alpena man has been arrested and charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Michigan State Police were called to investigate a report of sexual abuse of a minor on Saturday. The abuse was reported to have began in 2018, police said. Police said the victim of the abuse reported it to her mother, who then contacted Child Protective Services. He was charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of accosting a child for immoral purposes.

HOLLY TOWNSHIP, Mich. – An Oakland County man has been charged with child abuse and torture after a 3-year-old girl was pronounced dead last weekend. Samuel Lester Smart is being held in the Oakland County lockup after a judge denied his bond. He’s charged with beating Trinity Chandler, who was pronounced dead on Saturday in Holly Township. READ: Family says Child Protective Services had been called prior to death of 3-year-old Holly Township girlFamily members said Trinity’s mother was working an overnight shift at a nursing home when she got a text from her Smart. Just a day before she was pronounced dead, Child Protective Services did a welfare check on her.

DETROIT – Two children found wandering alone on Detroit’s west side Tuesday night have been released to their father and Child Protective Services is investigating. The children were found wandering at about 8:10 p.m. Tuesday. Detroit police said the children were found in the area of Alexandrine Street and northbound John C. Lodge service drive. A man driving by spotted the children and called 911. READ: More local news coverage

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – A young child was found safe Monday night after being abducted from her family at gunpoint in Southfield. An Amber Alert was issued Monday afternoon after Jaliyah Ford, 1, was allegedly abducted by her father Jeremy Ford around 2 p.m. in a parking lot near West Nile Road. As police began searching for the girl, people who parked in the lot started noticing their vehicles had been damaged by shots fired by the father amid the abduction. A woman who did not want to go on camera had to have her tire replaced after it was punctured from one of the shots fired. Jaliyah Ford’s father is now in police custody after turning himself in on Monday evening, returning his child to police unharmed.

PONTIAC, Mich. A German Shepard and two young children were taken from a Pontiac home Saturday afternoon. Police said it wasnt the first time deputies had been called to the residence regarding reports of child abuse. A deputy fired at the dog and the injured German Shepard ran back to its owner. The two children were turned over to a caseworker from CPS and the two women were taken into custody to be interviewed by detectives. An officer with Oakland County Animal Control took custody of the German Shepard.

DETROIT - Child Protective Services is investigating after a 2-year-old girl was found wandering in Detroit on Thursday evening. The little girl was with Detroit police for more than eight hours before her parents came to get her. When you left there, she was in the house sleep. "Because I take care of my baby and she just walked out of the house and we were sleep," Hodge said. Hodge: "A 2-year-old walks out because they're bigger and better and stronger and they're smart, that's how.