Homelife for kids in Ankeny neglect case filled with turmoil
Homelife for kids in Ankeny neglect case filled with turmoil
Ankeny police received at least 25 calls before parents were accused of locking kids in basement
11:45 PM, Nov 14, 2012
Written by
Emily Schettler
The house at 3016 S.W. Westwood St. in Ankeny was rife with turmoil in the months leading up to last week’s arrest of two parents for allegedly locking two of their children in the basement, sometimes for days at a time, police reports and calls for service show.
Since February, police were called at least 25 times on reports that the two children had run away; that they had abused their parents and a sibling; and that they were threatening to harm themselves.
Police reports also indicate that the parents and children were in counseling.
Last week, JoAnn Marie Drake, 44, and her husband, Paul Alan Drake, 45, were arrested and charged with two counts each of false imprisonment and neglect or abandonment of a dependent person. They allegedly locked their 13-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son in the basement of their home, feeding them under the door and allowing them out only to attend school, Ankeny police said.
Paul Drake had an initial hearing in the case Wednesday. JoAnn Drake was scheduled to appear in court today.
Court documents allege the couple locked the two teenagers, both of whom were adopted, in the basement for up to three days at a time with no way to escape. Windows to the basement had been boarded up and the door barricaded, according to court documents.
Three children — the two teens and a 6-year-old — were removed from the Drakes’ home on Oct. 5, according to police reports. The Iowa Department of Human Services learned of the alleged abuse in September after one of the teens told a school employee.
A neighbor of the Drakes said problems at the home had been growing in recent months.
“It was a last resort that the parents were doing to try to create some kind of safety, some kind of order and semblance in the home,” friend and neighbor Maree Ulrich said.
“They were worried about the safety of the other kids and themselves.”
Urlich said the accusations against the couple do not provide a full picture of what they have been dealing with.
Police records, however, provide a glimpse of the turmoil that existed in the home.
Authorities were called to the house in February when the male teenager reportedly threw a butter knife at his sister; in May, when the teenage daughter reportedly threatened to kill herself; and again in June after both children reportedly assaulted JoAnn Drake.
As mandatory reporters, police officers are required to alert DHS when child abuse occurs. However, the agency has declined to provide specific details about the Drake case, and spokesman Roger Munns said incidents such as a child harming a sibling or a parent, though “potentially serious,” do not demand notification.
Ankeny Police Chief Gary Mikulec said he had not had an opportunity to review the cases individually and could not say whether DHS had been called following any incidents.
“In some instances we may call upon Mobile Crisis if the situation is suggestive of mental health issues, but unfortunately our options are limited and we have no legal authority to order anyone to (an) intervention specialist,” Mikulec said.
Mikulec said he was aware of one or two cases in which the mother was assaulted by one of the children and the department “worked feverishly to process the child into a diversion program. However, the mother would not agree to the terms and allow us to proceed, so we submitted the case to Juvenile Court.”
In other situations, officers restored order at the house “to the satisfaction of the parents” and did not leave until the children were settled and orderly, he said.
“The family already had counselors and life works assistants in place, and these professionals were conducting home visits and were regularly assisting the Drakes,” Mikulec said. “The Drakes made direct contact with these counselors following these events, and our agency offered several intervention possibilities. However, the Drakes felt comfortable with the success of those case works and life coaches they had in place.”
Children who are taken from their biological parents and adopted through the Iowa child welfare system sometimes continue destructive behaviors and can have more problems with acting out, local mental health service providers and those who assist families after adoptions said.
“If they’ve experienced abuse and neglect in their birth family, then those kinds of trauma experiences impact their development. They might have attention deficit issues, or they might have attachment issues or not trust adults to keep them safe, because that’s not been their experience,” said Tamra Jurgemeyer, associate vice president of the Orchard Place Child Guidance Center, a community mental health service provider for children and families in the Des Moines area.
Agencies around the state offer counseling services and mental health assistance to families and children to learn how to address destructive behaviors, as well as set up action plans for times of crisis.
In the heat of those crisis situations, however, the options for immediate assistance are fewer.
Many mental health offices provide on-call therapists. Families can call the police or take their children to the hospital if mental health issues exist.
What really is needed, local providers say, are more options for respite service — temporary care that would allow all family members a break from one another and a chance to cool down in heated situations.
Youth Emergency Services & Shelter in Des Moines provides such service, but it fills up quickly and cannot meet the demands for the entire metro area, Jurgemeyer said.
Finding family members and friends to help look after children can be more difficult when they’re older or often act out, she said.
“If you listen to anyone that has ... an adoptive child that’s showing a lot of these types of behaviors and emotions, parents are burnt out and they’re trying to figure out, ‘Where do I find someone to give me a break?’ ” said Erik Oostenink, a system-of-care supervisor at the Child Guidance Center.
Kara Magnison, supervisor for post-adoption programs at Iowa KidsNet, which contracts with DHS to provide post-adoption support, said that it is difficult to look at a situation from the outside and make judgments on what should have been done differently.
How situations are approached can vary dramatically depending on the temperament of those involved, whether they are prepared to ask for support, and their level of perseverance.
“Our end goal is to try to keep the family together,” Magnison said. “You will find families that have (recurring) issues, and I don’t know that there’s an easy fix. There’s no easy answer. It all depends on what you do and how you do it.”
Police reports
Police reports
The following are summaries of calls for service and police reports to 3016 S.W. Westwood St. in Ankeny since February.
FRIDAY, FEB. 3
Time: Between 5:43 and 7:54 p.m.
Police report summary: 12- and 14-year-olds didn’t return home from school. Searches done; later mother said she knew where kids were, “just wanted ideas for future reference.” Officer told her to call if needed additional help.
SATURDAY, FEB. 25
Time: 9: 14 a.m.
Police report summary: Caller said her 14-year-old son threw a butter knife at his sister; no one hurt. Caller said boy was in the basement, alone and that he has “mental health issues” and had been at Mercy Franklin (which specializes in behavioral issues) until Feb. 24. Daughter, 19, went to basement and she’s “going to call her to have her lock her bedroom door. Other daughter has her bedroom door locked.”
SUNDAY, APRIL 1
Time: 4:31 p.m.
Police report summary: Officer reports that a female youth left home because she didn’t want to return because of arguing with her parents. About 4 hours later, girl’s mother called to say daughter is missing. Girl is found at a friend’s house because “she was upset with her parents over homework issue.” Girl released to parents custody.
Saturday, May 5
Time: 1:58 p.m.
Police report summary: 14-year-old male causing problems; pinched the mother.
MONDAY, MAY 7
Time:7: 18 p.m.
Police report summary: 12-year-old daughter beating door, threatening to kill herself with knife. Doesn’t have one. Girl became upset when parents asked her to help with housework and made comments of harming herself. She was calm when officer arrived at house. Parents said “this behavior is normal and (girl) has been evaluated and is in counseling for her behaviors.” Girl told police she would never harm herself; just makes these comments when she’s angry.
TUESDAY, MAY 15
Time: 7:44 p.m.
Police report summary: 12- and 14-year-old are out of control and trying to hurt the adults; adults are trying to contain children. Began because children didn’t want to eat dinner. “Mom and other daughter are trying to restrain them.” Two other adults and another child were in the house. Dispatcher notes lots of yelling and screaming in the background.
THURSDAY, MAY 17
Time: 8:49 a.m.
Police report summary: Paul Drake has questions about pressing charges on an assault that occurred earlier in the week involving his son against his wife and daughter. Drake given options; said he wanted to consult his wife.
THURSDAY, MAY 17
Time: 9:03 a.m.
Police report summary: JoAnn Drake wants son out of house; has called shelters and told they are full. “Wants to press charges if that is what it takes to get son out of the house.” Police unable to contact JoAnn Drake on callbacks.
FRIDAY, MAY 18
Time: 9:27 p.m.
Police report summary: 14-year-old boy ran away.
SATURDAY, MAY 19
Time:3:39 a.m.
Police report summary: Boy returns home.
SATURDAY, MAY 19
Time: 8:49 p.m.
Police report summary: 12- and 14-year old children won’t return home. About 30 minutes later, girl returns home. Paul Drake “wants no report or entry into NCIC. Just wished officers to know about the situation in case” they came across boy.
SUNDAY, MAY 20
Time: 7:12 a.m.
Police report summary: Missing kids return.
SUNDAY, MAY 27
Time: 9:19 a.m.
Police report summary: 12-year-old female out of control. Girl was in the back yard; husband with the girl. “Just an angry 12-year-old girl. Done this before.” Officers talked to the girl and calmed her down. Officer talked with parents and girl. “Mother and father were given options and advised to seek help from counselor for action plan when (girl) has issues. Parents agreed to get plan and speak with current counselor.
FRIDAY, JUNE 1
Time: 5 p.m.
Police report summary: Caller in dispute with 12-year-old, who is out of control, poking holes in wall, being physically violent with mother. “No assault took place. Child lashing out against property. Options given.”
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6
Time: 5:21 a.m.
Police report summary: 12-year-old and 14-year-old ran away sometime overnight. Parents tried for 90 minutes previous night to get children to come inside; children refused and said they’d sleep in doghouse. When police arrived at house, children were there. “They were asked to come in and complied. Going to counseling at 1 p.m. Parenting and behavioral issues.”
THURSDAY, JUNE 7
Time: 9:06 a.m.
Police report summary: Two teenagers assaulted mother. “Mom has them in the car in the garage.” Car wasn’t running. JoAnn Drake “wished to file assault charges on both.”
FRIDAY, JUNE 29
Time: 6:36 a.m.
Police report summary: Overnight there was a dispute between two children and their mother. Mom said she discovered bruises on herself and wants to file a report. Both children were hitting and pinching mother. Female juvenile cited for simple assault and male juvenile taken to Meyer Hall for assault with injury.
SATURDAY, JULY 14
Time: 8:16 p.m.
Police report summary: 12- and 14-year-old are “out of control.” Caller said that “YESS told her that if they couldn’t get the situation under control where everyone was safe” to call for assistance. Officer said children not following parent’s rules; they agreed to get along with parents.
SUNDAY, JULY 15
Time: 8:44 a.m.
Police report summary: Several people fighting. 14-year-old trying to run away. Child would not go to church so “father carried him upstairs and the child tried to run away, so father tackled him.” Officer reported male juvenile had small cut on forehead. Juvenile daughter also tried to run away; was stopped by older sister. Older sister was “clawed and bit by juvenile female.”
WEDNESDAY, JULY 18
Time: 5:39 p.m.
Police report summary: 12-year-old caller said she was afraid of her mom, who was refusing to feed the kids. Caller said the mother took the kids’ plates and threw them in the trash. When officer arrived, mother said she took an avocado away from daughter and threw it in the trash. Girl told police that mom “had called police in the past when she was in trouble so she wanted to call police before her mom did.” JoAnn Drake said daughter being rude and making crude statements about the avocado so she took it away from her.
FRIDAY, AUG. 17
Time: 11:13 p.m.
Police report summary: Two juveniles have run away.
THURSDAY, AUG. 23
Time:4:41 p.m.
Police report summary: Caller said 12-year-old daughter is “freaking out” and throwing stuff.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 27
Time: 6:50 p.m.
Police report summary: Juvenile throwing items, including plates and food.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 3
Time: 7:02 p.m.
Police report summary: Children didn’t come home from school. About 15 minutes later JoAnn called and said kids returned home.
FRIDAY, OCT. 5
Time: 9:27 a.m.
Police report summary: Two juveniles removed from the house. DHS is in the process of getting the 6-year-old half sibling removed as well. DHS has confessions from both parents and the children that they have been locked in the basement for the past month any time they are home.
THURSDAY, OCT. 25
Time: 5:10 p.m.
Police report summary: Drake’s son, previously of 3016 S.W. Westwood St., did not return to foster home after school was dismissed.