UTICA -- Two children were removed from a home in Utica after police say they were living in deplorable conditions.
Just after 11pm Friday, officers responded to 1663 Howard Avenue for reports of a domestic dispute. When officers got on the scene, they say they smelled a strong odor of natural gas coming from the second floor apartment and two gas burners from the stove turned in the on position.
Officers turned off the gas burners and notified the Utica Fire Department and National Gird and a gas leak was later found in the rear of the stove, according to officers. Police say they also found a husband, wife with their two-month old and one-year old child living with many cockroaches crawling on the walls and floors. Police say there was no food in the cupboard and the refrigerator was almost empty, except in the freezer there was a piece of chicken out of the package with dead cockroaches inside.
Police also say there was broken glass on the floor and a child was walking through the area. According to police, when the police asked the parents to clean up the glass, they refused. Police also say there was also no heat inside the apartment.
The two- month old child was on the back edge of a couch and left unattended to, according to police.
Police contacted Child Protection Services and they took custody of both children due to neglect.
31-year-old Abraham Kuol and 21 year-old Panda Madet were both arrested and charged with two counts each of endangering the welfare of a child.
