Insets, from left: Ernest Newbern and Anthony Wiseman (Grundy County Sheriff’s Office). Background: Canyon Drive in Altamont, Tennessee (Google Maps).
A child welfare call in rural Tennessee ended with two men in custody after concerns were reported about the treatment of children inside a home, authorities said.
Ernest Newbern, 58, and Anthony Wiseman, 68, were arrested Friday following a standoff of sorts at a residence on Canyon Drive in Altamont, Tennessee. The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office said the Department of Children’s Services received a report alleging possible child neglect, prompting caseworkers to visit the home and speak with the adults there.
According to investigators, the situation escalated when a man armed with a gun allegedly confronted the DCS workers and would not allow them to enter the home “to continue their investigation.” The caseworkers then contacted law enforcement for assistance.
Deputies said two “small children” were safely taken out of the residence. Officials did not release details about the children’s condition or clarify whether they were placed in DCS custody. During the response, the sheriff’s office said a nearby elementary school was placed on a “soft lockdown” as a precaution until the scene was secured.
Wiseman was booked on a charge of resisting arrest, while Newbern, who authorities said lives in Florida, was charged with child neglect. Online jail records indicated Wiseman had been released, though Newbern’s custody status was not immediately clear. Both men are scheduled to appear in Grundy County Circuit Court on Sept. 10.
The post about the Tennessee child neglect arrests and the men accused of refusing authorities entry first appeared on Law & Crime.
