Executive Overview
An investigation conducted by the Glenpool Police Department has led to the arrest and formal charging of two Oklahoma residents following allegations that they left three young children—including a one-year-old infant—unattended at home while traveling to a neighboring municipality to play pickleball.
The defendants, identified as Andrew Dick and Feather Roberts, were taken into custody on August 30 after law enforcement officers discovered the minors unsupervised inside a Glenpool residence. The children involved ranged in age from one to eight years old. A fourth child, an infant, was accounted for under separate childcare arrangements, raising additional questions regarding the decision-making and planning surrounding the remaining siblings.
Dick and Roberts each face three counts of felony child neglect under Oklahoma law. While emergency responders confirmed that the children were physically unharmed upon discovery, child welfare experts and law enforcement personnel emphasize that leaving infants and young children without adult oversight presents extreme developmental, environmental, and life-threatening hazards. The case underscores broader legal and societal discussions concerning acceptable standards of parental supervision, the inadequacy of digital communication tools as substitutes for physical care, and the mandatory intervention protocols of state child protective services.
Detailed Chronology of the Incident
The Initial Report and Discrepancies
The law enforcement intervention was initiated following a emergency call placed to local authorities by a concerned third party. According to official documentation provided by the Glenpool Police Department, the caller contacted local dispatch after suspecting that multiple young children were inside the Glenpool residence without adult supervision.
Prior to reaching out to law enforcement, the informant made direct contact with Feather Roberts to inquire about the children’s well-being and whereabouts. During this communication, Roberts allegedly asserted that she and Andrew Dick were participating in a pickleball game at an athletic facility in Bixby, Oklahoma—a municipality situated approximately 20 minutes away from the Glenpool residence. Furthermore, Roberts reportedly assured the caller that the children were under the care of designated babysitters.
Unsatisfied with the response and seeking to verify the safety of the minors, the informant traveled directly to the residence. Upon arrival, the individual confirmed that no adult or designated caregiver was present on the premises, prompting an immediate notification to emergency services.
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| TIMELINE OF EVENTS |
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| 1. Third-Party Concern : Caller suspects children are left unattended. |
| 2. Direct Inquiry : Caller contacts Roberts; Roberts claims sitters present.|
| 3. On-Site Verification : Caller checks residence; confirms children are alone. |
| 4. Law Enforcement Entry : Glenpool Police arrive; find 8, 5, and 1yo unattended. |
| 5. Parental Return : Parents return; cite iPad as primary emergency plan. |
| 6. Formal Custody & Arrest: OKDHS notified; Dick & Roberts booked on neglect. |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+Law Enforcement Response and Findings
Officers from the Glenpool Police Department arrived at the home shortly after receiving the dispatch call. Upon entering the property to assess the situation, officers discovered three children—aged eight, five, and one—inside the dwelling without any adult oversight.
- Living Area Observation: The eight-year-old and five-year-old children were found in the living area watching television.
- Nursery Area Observation: The one-year-old child was located in a separate room, asleep in a crib without an adult nearby to monitor vital signs or physical safety.
- Physical Assessment: Responding officers conducted an immediate welfare check on all three minors. Medical personnel and officers determined that the children were in safe physical health and had not sustained immediate physical injuries during the period of abandonment.
Parental Interrogation and "Digital Supervision" Defense
Upon returning to the residence from the sports facility in Bixby, Dick and Roberts were interviewed by investigating officers regarding their absence and the justification for leaving three minors unattended.
When queried as to how the young children were expected to handle a potential emergency—such as a house fire, home intrusion, or acute medical event—Roberts indicated that the children had access to an Internet-connected iPad. The parents asserted that the eight-year-old child had been instructed to use the tablet device to contact them if an emergency arose.
Investigating officers noted that relying on an eight-year-old child to operate a digital device as a primary safety measure for themselves and two younger siblings—including a non-verbal infant—fails to meet statutory standards for adequate parental care and protection.
Identification of Prior Patterns
As the investigation expanded, Glenpool police detectives gathered evidence suggesting that the August 30 incident was not an isolated event. Subsequent interviews and corroborating information led investigators to allege that the couple had previously left the young children home alone on prior occasions to engage in personal activities.
Additionally, investigators established that the couple possessed a fourth child, an infant, for whom formal third-party childcare had been successfully secured prior to the outing. This detail highlighted a stark discrepancy in the parental arrangements made for the household’s dependents.
Legal Standards and the "Digital Supervision" Fallacy
Oklahoma Statutory Framework on Child Neglect
Under Oklahoma Statute Title 21 § 843.5, child neglect is defined as the willful or negligent failure to provide adequate nurturance, medical care, clothing, shelter, or supervision necessary for a child’s health, safety, or well-being. The law considers the age, mental capability, and physical maturity of the child when determining whether supervision was legally adequate.
OKLAHOMA CHILD NEGLECT LEGAL ASSESSMENT
(Title 21 § 843.5)
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[Statutory Requirements] [Identified Evidentiary Deficiencies]
- Provision of Adequate Shelter - Unattended 1-Year-Old Infant
- Physical & Medical Protection - Distance Hazard (20-min response gap)
- Age-Appropriate Supervision - Reliance on Minor Child (Age 8)
- Immediate Hazard Mitigation - Unviable Tech Defense (Tablet/iPad)In evaluating child neglect charges, Oklahoma courts consistently examine several core factors:
- The Age and Developmental Stage of the Minors: Infants (age one) and early-childhood minors (age five) possess zero capacity for self-preservation in emergency scenarios.
- Proximity and Response Capabilities: A 20-minute geographical separation severely impairs a parent’s ability to respond to acute crises, such as fires, sudden medical conditions, or structural hazards.
- Delegation of Adult Responsibilities: Legally, an eight-year-old child cannot be burdened with the supervision, care, and emergency management of younger siblings.
The Inadequacy of Technology as a Caregiving Substitute
The defense mechanism articulated by the parents—utilizing an iPad as an emergency communication bridge—represents a growing challenge in modern child welfare enforcement. Law enforcement officials and child advocacy organizations emphasize that digital devices cannot mitigate physical environmental hazards.
| Hazard Category | Environmental Risk to Unattended Minors | Limitations of Digital Devices (e.g., iPad) |
|---|---|---|
| Fire & Smoke Inhalation | Rapid smoke accumulation, structural entrapment. | Minors lack cognitive ability to navigate exit routes or operate extinguishers; digital calls do not suppress fires. |
| Medical Emergencies | Choking on small objects, accidental falls, sudden illness. | A one-year-old infant cannot operate a device; an eight-year-old may panic or fail to articulate emergency locations. |
| Accidental Ingestion | Household chemicals, medications, small hazardous items. | Tablets offer no physical barrier or countermeasure against toxic exposure. |
| External Threats | Home intrusion, extreme weather events, utility failures. | Remote communication cannot physically secure doors or provide real-time protection. |
Child welfare experts emphasize that placing the responsibility of emergency communication onto an eight-year-old places an inappropriate psychological and operational burden on a juvenile, constituting a structural failure of care.
Supporting Context and Metrics: Child Neglect and Public Safety
Oklahoma Child Welfare Landscape
Child neglect accounts for a significant majority of all child welfare investigations across the United States, far outstripping physical or emotional abuse in frequency. In Oklahoma, state child welfare agencies process thousands of referrals annually related to inadequate supervision and environmental hazards.
NATIONAL CHILD WELFARE INVESTIGATION BREAKDOWN (APPROXIMATE)
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| Neglect / Inadequate Supervision | 75% |
| Physical Abuse | 17% |
| Sexual Abuse | 8% |
| Other / Multiple Forms | 5% |
+-------------------------------------------------------+Data maintained by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and state human services divisions illustrate key trends in supervision-related incidents:
- Prevalence of Neglect: Approximately 75% of substantiated child maltreatment cases nationally involve neglect, with failure-to-supervise being a leading subcategory.
- Vulnerability Window: Children under the age of five suffer the highest rate of severe injury or fatality resulting from unsupervised domestic accidents, particularly involving choking, drownings, and household poisonings.
- Community Vigilance: Over 60% of actionable child welfare investigations originate from third-party reports submitted by concerned community members, educators, or extended family members.
Community Intervention and Bystander Responsibility
The outcome in the Glenpool case highlights the pivotal role played by community bystanders. Law enforcement agencies stress that early intervention by citizens frequently prevents domestic neglect situations from escalating into severe trauma or loss of life.
Municipal police departments encourage citizens to report instances where young children appear to be left without adult leadership, underscoring that public safety is a collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies, state social services, and the local community.
Official Statements and Legal Proceedings
Law Enforcement Actions
Following the discovery of the children and the subsequent parental interview, officers with the Glenpool Police Department formally arrested Andrew Dick and Feather Roberts. Both individuals were processed at the local police facility and mugshots were recorded.
In an official public release, the Glenpool Police Department detailed the operational facts of the case, confirming the age of the children, the distance traveled by the parents, and the filing of felony-level charges.
Excerpt from Glenpool Police Department Case Summary:
"Officers responded to a residence following reports of unsupervised minors. Upon investigation, three children, ages 8, 5, and 1, were located inside the home without adult presence while the guardians were in a neighboring city. Both parents were placed into custody and booked on three counts of child neglect each. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services was formally notified to ensure the ongoing safety of the children."
Inter-Agency Coordination with OKDHS
Following standard statutory mandates in Oklahoma, police officers immediately engaged the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS).
When law enforcement identifies immediate conditions of neglect:
- Safety and Custody Assessment: OKDHS child protective workers initiate an emergency safety evaluation of the home environment and assess whether immediate protective custody is required.
- Alternative Placement: State agents evaluate qualified relative placements or licensed emergency foster care to ensure the minors are placed in a secure environment pending judicial reviews.
- Comprehensive Background Investigation: OKDHS conducts independent interviews with family members, educators, and neighbors to evaluate historical care standards within the household.
Future Outlook and Judicial Implications
Statutory Penalties and Court Proceedings
Andrew Dick and Feather Roberts each face three counts of felony child neglect in the District Court system. Under Oklahoma criminal jurisprudence, felony child neglect carries significant statutory penalties upon conviction.
JUDICIAL PROCESS FLOWCHART
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[Arrests Completed]
(Glenpool Police Department)
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[Formal Filing of Charges]
(3 Counts Felony Neglect Each)
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[Initial Court Arraignment]
(Bail Set, Conditions Issued)
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[Preliminary Hearing Phase]
(Evaluation of State Evidence)
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[Trial / Judicial Adjudication]
(Potential Incarceration / Diversion)Potential legal outcomes and penalties include:
- Incarceration: Convictions for felony child neglect in Oklahoma can carry terms of imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections ranging from multiple years up to life imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offense and prior criminal history.
- Monetary Fines and Restitution: Court-mandated fines, administrative assessments, and court costs often accompany felony convictions.
- Supervised Probation & Rehabilitation Mandates: Judges may order mandatory parenting classes, psychological evaluations, and continuous monitoring by state social workers as conditions of bail or probation.
Child Welfare and Family Court Trajectory
Parallel to the criminal proceedings, the family court system will handle the ongoing custody and welfare arrangements for the four children. Key components of this process include:
- Deprived Child Proceedings: The state may initiate civil dependency actions to establish formal court oversight regarding parental rights and custody limitations.
- Structured Reunification Plans: If reunification is deemed permissible by the court, the parents will likely be required to complete stringent, state-monitored rehabilitation programs demonstrating prolonged compliance with parental responsibility standards.
Systemic Impact on Child Safety Norms
The Glenpool case serves as an important precedent regarding public awareness and parental accountability. It illustrates that law enforcement agencies and judicial systems view modern recreational pursuits—regardless of popular interest or perceived low risk by parents—as entirely subordinate to the non-negotiable obligation of physical child supervision.
As digital technology becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life, the legal system continues to reinforce a fundamental standard: digital communication tools cannot compensate for the physical presence, cognitive oversight, and real-time protection that young children require from adult caregivers.
Resources for Child Protection and Reporting
If you suspect a child is experiencing neglect, abuse, or inadequate supervision, public safety officials strongly encourage immediate reporting to relevant authorities.
- Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) | www.childhelp.org
- Oklahoma Department of Human Services Abuse Hotline: 1-800-522-3511
- Emergency Assistance: Contact local law enforcement via 911 immediately if a child is in immediate physical danger.
