Bartow Police Find Infants In Filthy Conditions During Drug Bust

BARTOW, FL – Bartow Police officers arrested a 22-year-old man on multiple drug charges along with two counts of child neglect July 5 after raiding a suspected drug house and finding two infants living in filth.

Police said they received a tip that Jose Antonio De La Cruz was selling drugs out of 780 W. Davidson St., Lot 92, Bartow.

When police arrived, they weren't surprised to find drugs, pipes and scales. However, they were surprised to find two infants in the home being kept in a dirty, unsanitary environment.

The Department of Children and Families was notified and the children were removed from the home.

De La Cruz was taken to the Polk County Jail where, in addition to the child neglect charges, he is charged with possession of cannabis, methamphetamine, controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.

Despite the living conditions, the infants appear to be uninjured, police say.

Image via Bartow Police

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