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Friday
November 20, 2009 Since 1922 |
Amber Alert issued for missing Baytown teen
By Cierra Putman
The Baytown Sun Published September 10, 2009 The Baytown Police Department (BPD) issued an Amber Alert Wednesday for Samuel Kirtley, 15, a Baytown teenager believed to be in danger and in the custody of his father. The father, Neal Roberts, 49, of Baytown, is also under investigation for child abuse.
According to Baytown police, a mistake by an unknown Harris County Children’s Protective Services (CPS) worker may have put the child in danger.
“We’re asking for anyone’s help throughout the state,” Det. Alan Cliburn of the Baytown Police Department said. “If they see him (Roberts) or the child, give us or their local department a call.
“The main focus is we’re trying to get the child back,” he said. “We do believe he is in danger of further physical abuse.”
Samuel was last seen Sunday at approximately 6 p.m. at his grandmother’s home in League City. Cliburn said the boy was placed in the custody of his grandmother while both the Baytown Police Department and CPS investigated allegations that Roberts was physically abusing the boy.
In August, members of the Precinct 8 Constables Office stopped Samuel for running across the Fred Hartman Bridge. The teen told the constable he was running away from home because his father was physically abusing him.
After the incident, Harris County Children’s Protective Services decided to place Samuel in his grandmother’s care until the investigation was complete.
According to police on Sunday, Roberts contacted the League City Police Department in an attempt to regain custody of his son. When Roberts and League City officers came to the grandmother’s home she told the officers both CPS and BPD were still investigating allegations of abuse.
However, when officers contacted CPS an unknown worker told them to take the teen from the grandmother and place him into his father’s custody. Cliburn said the grandmother left a message for the Baytown detective handling the case Tuesday evening, which was not received until Wednesday, at which time an Amber Alert was issued.
“League City did everything that they were supposed to do,” Cliburn said. “But, obviously with an open case, the child should not have been released to the father. As soon as we were made aware of what had occurred, we started working on it.”
On top of the allegation of child abuse, Cliburn said Roberts was convicted of aggravated kidnapping in 1995 and assault and family violence in 1998.
A CPS official said the department could not comment because it was not yet a matter of public record.
Anyone with information concerning the case should contact the Baytown Police Department at 281-422-8371.
The Baytown Sun Published September 10, 2009 The Baytown Police Department (BPD) issued an Amber Alert Wednesday for Samuel Kirtley, 15, a Baytown teenager believed to be in danger and in the custody of his father. The father, Neal Roberts, 49, of Baytown, is also under investigation for child abuse.
According to Baytown police, a mistake by an unknown Harris County Children’s Protective Services (CPS) worker may have put the child in danger.
“We’re asking for anyone’s help throughout the state,” Det. Alan Cliburn of the Baytown Police Department said. “If they see him (Roberts) or the child, give us or their local department a call.
“The main focus is we’re trying to get the child back,” he said. “We do believe he is in danger of further physical abuse.”
Samuel was last seen Sunday at approximately 6 p.m. at his grandmother’s home in League City. Cliburn said the boy was placed in the custody of his grandmother while both the Baytown Police Department and CPS investigated allegations that Roberts was physically abusing the boy.
In August, members of the Precinct 8 Constables Office stopped Samuel for running across the Fred Hartman Bridge. The teen told the constable he was running away from home because his father was physically abusing him.
After the incident, Harris County Children’s Protective Services decided to place Samuel in his grandmother’s care until the investigation was complete.
According to police on Sunday, Roberts contacted the League City Police Department in an attempt to regain custody of his son. When Roberts and League City officers came to the grandmother’s home she told the officers both CPS and BPD were still investigating allegations of abuse.
However, when officers contacted CPS an unknown worker told them to take the teen from the grandmother and place him into his father’s custody. Cliburn said the grandmother left a message for the Baytown detective handling the case Tuesday evening, which was not received until Wednesday, at which time an Amber Alert was issued.
“League City did everything that they were supposed to do,” Cliburn said. “But, obviously with an open case, the child should not have been released to the father. As soon as we were made aware of what had occurred, we started working on it.”
On top of the allegation of child abuse, Cliburn said Roberts was convicted of aggravated kidnapping in 1995 and assault and family violence in 1998.
A CPS official said the department could not comment because it was not yet a matter of public record.
Anyone with information concerning the case should contact the Baytown Police Department at 281-422-8371.