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Police arrest city man for endangering child

Winters faces felony charge

A city man faces charges after he allegedly endangered the welfare of a child.

David Paul Winters Jr., 34, was arraigned Friday before Magisterial District Judge Benjamin F. Jones on a felony charge of endangering the welfare of children and a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance.

Officers were dispatched Thursday to 902 Third Ave. for a dog that was left out all day.

Upon arriving at the residence, police made contact with Winters, who was standing beside a vehicle with a 2-year-old boy inside.

An officer observed multiple holes in the windshield and that the child was wearing only a diaper and a dirty, damp towel.

The defendant was erratic and his speech was “choppy,” according to court documents.

Winters couldn’t give officers any information beyond his name and date of birth, and he appeared to be under the influence of narcotics, court documents state.

The officer asked Winters if there was a phone he could use to call someone to pick up the child. Winters said that the phone inside was disconnected but that he had contact information on it.

Winters agreed to allow the officer to enter the residence. The officer smelled the odor of animal urine in the residence and saw a large number of flying insects, water and dirty diapers on the floor, dirty dishes on the counter tops and stacks of trash in various rooms.

Sleeping arrangements were a single bed covered in plastic in the living room.

There appeared to be no food in the residence.

A Blair Children, Youth & Families worker stated that the child would need to be removed and placed with his mother.

Police also found methamphetamine and various drug paraphernalia in the residence.

Winters was unable to post $45,000 cash bail and was remanded to the Blair County Prison. He is scheduled to appear before Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio for a preliminary hearing Aug. 17.

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