Images (left to right): Ernest Newbern and Anthony Wiseman (Grundy County Sheriff’s Office). Scene: Canyon Drive, Altamont, Tennessee (Google Maps).
Authorities in Tennessee arrested two men following a report that sparked concerns about the well-being of children residing in their home.
On Friday, 58-year-old Ernest Newbern and 68-year-old Anthony Wiseman were detained after allegedly blocking Department of Children’s Services (DCS) caseworkers from entering their residence. The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office stated that DCS had been alerted to potential child neglect at an address on Canyon Drive, Altamont. According to their report, caseworkers dispatched to the site wanted to interview the adults present.
The caseworkers sought police assistance when a man armed with a firearm allegedly barred their entry, effectively halting their investigation.
Officials reported that two “small children” were safely removed from the premises. The sheriff’s office did not disclose whether the children were taken into DCS custody or describe their condition. Additionally, the incident prompted a “soft lockdown” at a nearby elementary school until authorities declared the situation secure.
Wiseman was charged with resisting arrest; Newbern, who lives in Florida, was charged with child neglect. Online jail records showed that Wiseman was released from jail, but it was not clear if Newbern was also out of custody. Both men are due in Grundy County Circuit Court on Sept. 10.
The post Men accused of restraining a child to a bed refused to let authorities inside and learned the hard way that they should have opened the door: Police first appeared on Law & Crime.