Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Crestview Police Department officials went to the apartment at about 10:20 a.m. Minutes later, a member of the S.O. began ordering all occupants of the apartment to come to the front door with their arms up after letting them know a search warrant was being served. A flash-bang device was utilized by authorities at the scene.
Shortly after 11 a.m., officials arrested 46-year-old James Jackson, of 195 W. Bowers Ave., and 46-year-old Gerald Gantt, of 3788 New Ebenezer Road, Laurel Hill, at the apartment.
Jackson was arrested on a felony charge of neglecting a child without great bodily harm and a misdemeanor charge of obstructing police executing a search a warrant. Gantt was arrested on a charge of obstructing police executing a search a warrant.
During the execution of the warrant, three small children were present and determined to reside within the residence, S.O. officials said in Jackson’s arrest report.
“During a search of the residence, it was found to have no running water, rotten/moldy food was scattered throughout the residence, numerous cockroaches and flies were observed, and all food within the refrigerator was spoiled,” officials said in the report.
They also said the children were observed to be unkempt.
“It was apparent the children’s basic and essential needs were not being met due to the children’s appearance,” officials said in the report. “More specifically, one infant had a diaper full of feces and it was evident that all children had not been bathed in some time due to the foul odor they were emitting. The children’s clothes also appeared to not have been washed in some time.”
Officials said Jackson told authorities post Miranda that he was sleeping and did not know law enforcement was outside.
Jackson confirmed he was the father of the three children and stated the water had been turned off because they were moving, officials said in the report.
Before law enforcement officers left West Bowers Avenue, an SUV was towed away from a parking spot near the apartment.
