Last week, Florida police arrested a couple after their 1-year-old son was living in substandard conditions.
On January 13, Flagler Fire Rescue responded to reports of Tashaye Brown’s disabled, elderly uncle, who had fallen. It was then that the responding lieutenant noticed the home was covered in insects and reeked of cat urine and feces, according to Flagler Live.
The lieutenant eventually located Brown and Nikolas Cummings’ toddler son, who was allegedly sleeping in a living room littered with trash. Flagler Live reported that roaches were crawling on the sleeping boy, and crews removed insects from his hair.
Flagler County police noted the lack of food available for the couple’s child. While Brown recently bought him fruit, police said their fridge was covered in mold.
Police also could not determine whether Brown’s elderly uncle was receiving his medications or being properly fed. Police said the elderly man’s 38-year-old son, who also lived at the home, behaved in a manner consistent with an undiagnosed behavioral or mental health disorder.
“I realize this is Florida, we have bugs, but not to this extent,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly told WESH.
According to an affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, Brown told police how “she sprays Raid Roach Spray around the home [and] flips [the 1-year-old’s] portable enclosure upside down to shake the insects out. Then [Brown] places [the 1-year-old] back inside and sprays a ‘protective’ tight circle of Raid Roach Spray around the immediate base of the enclosure.”
Brown and Cummings are charged with child and elderly neglect. WESH reported that the couple’s son was placed with Brown’s sister, while Brown’s uncle was hospitalized. His condition was not disclosed.
“”Hopefully, DCF will get this family on the right track,” Staly commented. “Give them the tools so they can be proper parents and help this elderly man also.”
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Feature Photo: Flagler County Sheriff’s Office]
