State takes kids
Families furious

By Pamela G. Dempsey
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Wallace Willie didn't know that Friday would be the day he'd lose custody of his son.

He sent his 10-year-old son off to school at Thoreau Elementary School just like other days.

But by late Friday afternoon, Willie found himself in the emergency room at Gallup Indian Medical Center looking for his son.

According to Willie, his son along with four other fourth graders ingested marijuana at school sometime on Friday. The marijuana was allegedly brought to school by another student, a fourth-grade girl.

The McKinley County Sheriff's Office, which could not be reached for immediate comment or further details, responded and transported the students to Gallup Indian Medical Center.

Willie said that because parents of these students were not available, officers called in the state's Children, Youth, and Families Department.

The five children were admitted into the state's custody so approval could be given for treatment.

Willie and another parent, Cheryl Platero, said they arrived at the emergency room soon after, but were told they could not pick up their children because the children were now in the state's custody.

"As a parent, I should be able to speak to my child," Willie said, "But I wasn't allowed to."

The children were taken with a social worker and placed in a temporary home, Willie said.

He said that he and a few other parents followed a social worker to the state's CYFD office in Gallup for answers and to get their children back.

Willie said that although the parents asked to speak with their children, they weren't allowed.

The parents were told, he said, that they could have a one-hour visit with them on Saturday.

Despite repeated phone calls to CYFD and the Sheriff's Office, Willie, Platero, and Nate Begay another parent can't answer why their children are being held.

"There are no charges pending (against us)," Begay said.

Begay said his son's caretaker was notified of the incident on Friday afternoon. But because she lacked transportation, she wasn't able to get to the emergency room. Begay said he was driving back from his job in Santa Fe while making phone calls to try to locate his son.

It wasn't until 11:30 p.m. on Friday that he finally did locate his son, but it was too late to see him, Begay said.

Willie, Platero, and Begay waited outside the Christian Child Care Home on Saturday for their children. They had taken their one-hour visit, but continued to wait for answers and for their children.

"Basically, all we want is our children back," Platero said.

According to CYFD, it may not be that easy.

Deborah Martinez, spokesperson for the state's department, could not comment on this specific situation, but she did say that once a child is admitted into the state's care, there is a 48-hour holding period.

"During this time, the social worker will determine whether or not the department asks for legal custody," Martinez said.

If the department does seek legal custody, then a hearing is scheduled within 10 days, during which time the state builds its case.

The state has 30 days to complete its investigation, Martinez said.

"Their job is to determine if (the child) would be safe at home," she said.

If a social worker finds no reason for the department to seek legal custody, then a child could be returned to his or her family after 48 hours, she confirmed.

Willie, Platero, and Begay said there should be no reason for the state to continue to hold their children.

"We're not getting any sleep," Platero said.

Both Willie and Platero returned on Sunday and camped outside of the children's home.

"Hopefully, the kids will see us and get the idea that they're not left there or abandoned," Willie said.