DHS, ICE, Child Svcs, and your government from hell

Don’t EVER think, “It can’t happen here!”, even for a second!

I have known Suzanne, and Calvin McHenry for close to seven years. During that time, Suzanne and I have “spoken” to each other, via Instant Messenger, on a daily basis. We speak by phone 2-4 times a month. These are some of the best people anyone could hope to meet on this earth. Being their friend is both an honor and a privilege.

What has happened to them, over the last 30 days, should never happen to a soul on this earth, let alone people like this. They mistakenly caught the attention of three of most the despicable agencies our government has ever created:

• DHS, the Department of Human Services
• The Children’s Advocacy Center, of any state, and
  
• ICE, the investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, the Other DHS).

As if the first two, aren’t bad enough, it takes their collaboration with the third to really bring home the depth of contempt our government has for it’s citizens.

I have had two run-ins with California’s Child Stealing Agency. Both times due to false claims, maliciously made by people with an axe to grind. These resulted in the government stealing my grandchildren, none of us seeing them for as long as 6 months. In both cases, every allegation was proven false. Even though the claims were shown to be of a malicious nature, no one was ever prosecuted! (That’s “not their job”) No one went to jail, except my grandchildren. (Ah, but that IS their job.)

Now these child stealing vultures have landed on friends of mine. Suzanne was one of the people who consoled me, kept me sane, when I went through the hell she’s in now. I wish to God I knew how to turn the key that would undo all they’ve suffered, and what’s to come.

To describe what’s happened, I will leave the telling to Suzanne’s husband, Calvin. The sections below are his own words.

Lastly, if your attention should wander, Please! at least scroll to the bottom of this post, and read the two updates.

Hey Fred;
Enjoyed talking to ya today. Got some sore fingers from typing all this, But it was well worth it.

Sun June 14, 2009
On the weekend of May 22nd which was Memorial Day weekend. Suzanne and I, along with our neighbors had a get together and cookout. Our next door neighbor has a swimming pool. We were BBQ-ing and having some fellowship and such. Amie our 4 year old daughter was here with us at the time and she was in and out of the swimming pool constantly. We had continuious get togethers throughout the weekend.

My Father had come down on Sunday to get Amie so she could go back to my mom and dads so she could go to school. During the time Amie was in school the teacher had noticed Amie was walking on her tip toes. The teacher asked Amie what was wrong Amie then stated to her that her mommy burned her with a cigarette.

Amie was Immediately picked up from the school by my mom and dad as the school informed them of what she told them. She was immediately taken to a Doctor in Monette, Arkansas by the name of Dennis Parten. Parten then saw Amie for a total of maybe 5 minutes and was quick in making a determination. Amie told the doctor that Mommy burned her with cigarettes. The Doctor proceeded to take photos of Amie’s foot where the alleged burn was, and of other marks on her legs. If this was a burn then it could have been that Amie possibly stepped on a lit cigarette butt. However she did not complain of anything while with us. No testing of any kind was done in his offices to determine that these were true burns.

Parten then made a phone call to the child abuse hot line and alerted Authorities about a little girl who says her mom burned her. I then did some research on Dennis Parten, and was astonished at what I found. Not only does he have a poor rating but bad reviews from previous patients concerning their health care. Saying that he wont see you long enough, he wont run tests, do blood work, X rays etc.

An investigator from the DHS came to my mom and dads on Wednesday afternoon to let them know they had a 1:30 pm appointment the following day at the Children’s Advocacy Center in West Memphis, Arkansas. They said they wanted to talk to Amie and ask a few questions and do an interview. Upon arrival at the center the next day my kids were taken into one room, my folks in another. My kids never came back out.

My folks were then advised that my kids were being taken in to DHS custody. My parents were shocked and outraged. It was only 30 minutes later that a DHS worker came from West Memphis to my home in Marion where Suzanne and Bethany (our third child) were at the time. They advised Suzanne that they were taking the baby.

The DHS worker had advised Suzanne that all 3 kids were going to be placed on a 72 hour hold. The following day we went to Harrisburg, Arkansas in Poinsett county, because that’s the county my folks reside in, and where Amie goes to School. We found an attorney there. [Note: Amie is a special needs child and the closest school is near her grandparents.]

We had an Emergency order of Custody drawn up. We then followed the attorney’s to Jonesboro, Arkansas where a Judge was found and he signed the order.

During the time that Amie was in Foster Care she was seen by another doctor, by the name of Clay Spencer, in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Dr Spencer checked over Amie and confirmed that what she had was a Staph Infection. He then prescribed her and antibiotic for Staph Infection.

This was told to us by the DHS worker that returned Amie to my parents later on that Friday evening, after giving custody of the kids to my folks. We had a hearing in the Harrisburg Court that following Monday the date was June 8th. While in the courtroom we met with the attorney’s who had the emergency custody petition filed and granted a Temp 90 day custodial order to my folks. After Suzanne and I signed this we went on home

So, at this point:

• The custodial agency has taken the child to a doctor,
• The doctor has identified the problem, and prescribed for it.
• The agency in question now knows this is not a child abuse case!
• But hell ain’t half over yet.

While I doubt anyone would answer him, if he asked, I can not understand why any of this is a DHS matter, to begin with?

Calvin continues:

At approximatley 3:50 pm we had 2 Dectectives from the Marion Police at our door; Sgt Freddy Williams and Dectective Mark McDougal. Williams stood in the background as McDougal did the talking. He asked if I would speak to him and I advised him no not without legal representiation present. He then asked Suzanne, she said the same.

McDougal then called for Sgt Williams to call for a transport unit. I then asked McDougal what’s going on here who’s in trouble. He then said to me that I was not in any trouble but Suzanne was. I said why, He responded by saying she has a warrant. I asked what for, and he said battery. I then asked for particulars, and he told me to, “Shut the fuck up and mind my own business”, that it was not any of my concern. I was furious.

McDougal then told Suzanne she was under arrest. Suzanne was sitting down on our doorstep and as she stood up  he grabbed her violently by the wrist and forced her to sit back down. He did not read her any Miranda rights, did not present a warrant, or serve her with any papers of any kind.

She has been in jail every since. She had a bond hearing this past Wednesday (June 10). Judge William Palma Rainey presided, and the Prosecutor was Lindsey Fairley a former West Memphis District Court Judge.

It was then and there that she was being charged with Battery a Class Y Felony in the State of Arkansas and that could carry a minimum sentence of up to 10 years in State prison but not to exceed life. Fairley went on to read the allegations, video of which were broadcast on local news, and posted on YouTube.

Farley stated that police recieved a tip on the child abuse hotline saying that a 4 year old girl was burned with cigarettes by her mother. When Suzanne heard of the charges brought before her her face was a picture. She was in total shock. Judge Rainey also said he saw these photos and that they were shocking.

On Thursday June 11th. The DHS Case worker named Julie called my parents advising them to get my daughter Amie to Little Rock ASAP for testing. It was then they went to the Arkansas Childrens Hospital and Amie was seen by 3 different physicians that confirmed Amie had Staph Infections and not burns. This report also indicated that NO SIGNS OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT WAS FOUND ON THIS CHILD.

This information has been forwarded onto the prosecutor who must then get the Judge to sign off on all charges on Suzanne. We are just waiting at this time to see what the outcome of this is.

She should be back home by tomorrow if not then I’m gonna get a bit upset. As far as I am concerned she has already been proved innocent. The Doctors report, The State Social worker on the scene there and the DHS Case worker involved in our situtation. All called for Suzanne to be released.

I will keep you updated for sure. Thanks Bro for all you do for Suz and being an awsome friend.

God Bless,
Calvin McHenry

Understand, at this point, the child has been seen by four agency appointed doctors, all of whom stated there was no child abuse involved! The case workers know it! The prosecutor knows it! There is no case! Why is this woman in jail?

Update No. 1 From Calvin McHenry:

8:00 AM June 30, 2009:
Suzanne has now been taken into the custody of ICE. She is being held in Memphis. Based on the decisions of ICE she will be deported back to the United Kingdom. She may leave as early as Thursday or sometime early next week. I have a visit with her later on today after Lunch. I will keep you guys updated.

Update No. 2:

3:30 PM June 30, 2009:
I just got home an hour or so back from my final visit with Suzanne. I cannot begin to describe what I am going through now. She is currently being held in a Federal Facility just outside of Memphis,TN. She will be taken to Oakdale, Louisiana to the main ICE detention facility and put on a plane back to England from there. I will keep you posted on details as i get them as I’m on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
God Bless,
Calvin McHenry

Technorati Tags: DHS, ICE, Government Child Abuse