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A mother from Miami was arrested after police found her five children living in an apartment filled with garbage and cockroaches.
Dishon Michelle Lopez, 33 years old, now faces five charges of child neglect without causing serious bodily harm, according to the arrest report cited by NBC Miami.
Lopez resided in an apartment located on the 800 block of Northwest 7th Avenue with his children, whose ages range from 3 to 16 years.
Miami police authorities launched an investigation after receiving a notification from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) regarding the concerning condition of the household.
In December, a witness from the Department of Public Housing Development reported concerns about the children's welfare following an inspection that revealed the apartment was in unsanitary and deplorable conditions.
The report detailed that the apartment's floor was covered with trash to the extent of obstructing the hallways.
"Hundreds of cockroaches were seen as the door to the place was opened," the document states.
It also states that "the floor was almost invisible in most of the apartment due to the accumulation of waste and dirt."
The authorities issued a 30-day notice for Lopez to rectify the situation. However, a follow-up inspection confirmed that the conditions at the site had not improved.
In February, an officer visited the apartment and knocked on the door. A minor responded from inside, indicating that they could not open the door without their mother present. The police attempted to contact Lopez, but her phone number was disconnected.
“No one knows how long the mother has been absent,” the report noted.
The spokesperson for the Miami Police, Mike Vega, stated that when they finally managed to contact Lopez, she was not even in Miami-Dade and could not say when she would return.
"The conditions were so disgusting, with so many cockroaches and trash that it was impossible to even walk on the floor," Vega expressed.
"No human being should live under such conditions," he emphasized.
The five minors were removed from the apartment due to "lack of adequate supervision and environmental danger," the document states.
Lopez went to the police station on Thursday, where she was arrested and taken to jail.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Arrest of Dishon Michelle Lopez in Miami
Why was Dishon Michelle Lopez arrested in Miami?
Dishon Michelle Lopez was arrested for child neglect after her five children were found living in an apartment in deplorable conditions, filled with trash and cockroaches.
How were the conditions of Dishon Michelle Lopez's apartment discovered?
The conditions of the apartment were uncovered after a notification to the Department of Children and Families, which led to an inspection that revealed the unsanitary state of the place. The floor was covered with trash and there was an infestation of cockroaches.
What measures did the authorities take regarding the children of Dishon Michelle Lopez?
The five minors were removed from the apartment due to the lack of adequate supervision and the environmental hazards posed by the conditions of the home.
What legal actions does Dishon Michelle Lopez face following her arrest?
Dishon Michelle Lopez faces five charges of child neglect without causing serious bodily harm. She was arrested after presenting herself at the police station and was subsequently taken to jail.
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