2 Valley Women Booked on Suspicion of Child Endangerment

VAN NUYS —  Two San Fernando Valley women were being held Thursday on suspicion of endangering their children by leaving them alone in unfit homes, Los Angeles police said.

Saundra Crockett, 33, of Sunland was booked at Van Nuys Jail on suspicion of child endangerment, LAPD spokeswoman Helen Lloyd said. Crockett was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

In a separate arrest, Shannan Flynn, 23, of Tujunga was booked at Van Nuys Jail on one count of child endangerment. Her bail was also set at $50,000.

The two cases attracted attention because they came on the heels of a similar incident in which police said a South Los Angeles woman left her three children--all under the age of 3--in a squalid apartment. That woman pleaded not guilty Wednesday to three counts of felony child abuse.

Officers said they found Crockett’s three children--11 months and 7 and 13 years--alone Wednesday in their Sunland home without food, water and power. Police went to the house after receiving a call from the father of one of the children who expressed concern about the children’s safety.

The children were placed in the custody of the Department of Children’s Services and are now in foster homes, county officials said. A court hearing will determine what becomes of them.

Acting on an anonymous tip, officers found Crockett Wednesday night at the Thrift Lodge Motel on Highland Boulevard in Hollywood.

“We received probably a couple dozen tips as a result of media attention,” Det. Andy Monsue said. “This is one we followed up on and it proved to be an accurate tip.”

Police said Crockett was also being detained on outstanding misdemeanor warrants, including a traffic-related warrant stemming from a hit-and-run incident.

Flynn was arrested after police found her 3-year-old son alone, Monsue said. Neighbors apparently called police after hearing the child cry, a tip that “was probably a direct result of the [Crockett] case being publicized,” Monsue said.

Officers who went to Flynn’s second-floor apartment about 1:40 a.m. said they found a number of hazards to the child.

“When the officers arrived he was crying and his diaper was soiled,” Monsue said. “There was very little food, particularly food meant for the baby.” Food had been left out and had spoiled, he said, and the apartment was totally dark.

The baby could have fallen through a nearby open, unscreened window, Monsue said, or into a tub left full of water.

Items that can be dangerous in the hands of a child were left out throughout the apartment, including scissors, screwdrivers, and sewing needles, Monsue said.

While police were still at the apartment, Flynn arrived and told officers she had been at a local bar, Monsue said.

“There was some indication from the neighbors that this was habitual--leaving the child alone and going out,” Monsue said.

The child was turned over to the Department of Children’s Services.