FAYETTEVILLE, WV (LOOTPRESS) — A Fayetteville man was arrested on a child neglect charge after his 9-year-old son called 911 to report that his father was intoxicated and had allegedly struck and threatened him, according to a police report.
James Kenneth Taylor was charged with child neglect creating risk of injury following the October 18 incident at an apartment on Fayette Hills Drive.
Officers with the Fayetteville Police Department responded around 8:16 p.m. after the child told a dispatcher his father was “drunk in his bed.” The child also reported being hit and threatened with harm to his genitals, according to the report.
When officers arrived, they found the boy standing in the apartment doorway. He confirmed that he had called 911 and told officers his father was asleep upstairs.
PFC M. S. Kees and Sgt. J. H. Rice went to a rear upstairs bedroom, where they found Taylor apparently asleep on a bed. The report states that Taylor appeared to have urinated on himself.
After officers woke him, Taylor initially provided little information but eventually said the children were “being mean,” according to the report. He denied striking his son.
Kees reported detecting a strong odor consistent with an alcoholic beverage while speaking with Taylor. Taylor acknowledged drinking before officers arrived, police said.
Neighbors describe concerns about supervision
Officers interviewed several nearby residents while investigating the child’s allegations.
According to the report, neighbors told police the boy was frequently outside late at night without supervision. A woman identified as Taylor’s former romantic partner also told officers that Taylor frequently did not know where his son was.
She described occasions when the child traveled to a park or visited her at a laundromat, according to the report.
When asked whether he had eaten that day, the boy’s response was initially unclear, but he indicated he had eaten once, police said. An officer brought him a meal, which the report states he ate quickly.
Neighbor acknowledges making threat
During the investigation, officers also spoke with a male neighbor who acknowledged threatening to harm the child’s genitals.
According to the report, the neighbor said he made the threat after the boy grabbed his belongings while Taylor and the child were inside the neighbor’s apartment.
The neighbor also told officers that he and Taylor had been drinking whiskey earlier that evening and that Taylor had consumed three glasses.
Although the initial 911 account attributed a threat to the father, the report separately documents the neighbor’s admission. The narrative does not resolve whether Taylor also made a similar threat.
Police contact prosecutor and CPS
After conducting the interviews, Kees contacted Fayette County Prosecutor Chris Burdick, who agreed with pursuing a child neglect charge against Taylor, according to the report.
Police also requested that an on-call Child Protective Services worker respond. An officer remained at the scene awaiting the worker while Taylor was taken to the Fayetteville Police Department for processing.
Taylor was then transported to Southern Regional Jail to await arraignment, according to the report.
The narrative does not describe a documented injury to the child or identify an additional charge arising from the allegation that he was struck. It also does not state the outcome of the CPS response.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing and is being led by Kees.
The charge against Taylor is an allegation. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
