A Kalispell man faces multiple charges after law enforcement officers found a 2-year-old boy under his care in a snowy street, shoeless and crying.
Prosecutors are charging Russell William Flanigan, 21, with misdemeanor child endangerment, as well as criminal possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal manufacturing of dangerous drugs, a felony.
Sheriff’s deputies received a call on Jan. 24 reporting that a child had been sitting in the middle of a street. The responding deputies found the child wearing a T-shirt and sweatpants. The boy was not wearing a coat, socks or shoes, records state.
According to prosecutors, the temperature at the time was 13 degrees, and there was snow on the ground.
Officers followed the boy’s footprints in the snow back to the home he came from. Several attempts to make contact with anyone inside the house were unsuccessful, so the officers went inside.
After searching the residence, officers say they found a 10-month-old girl. Flanigan was lying in bed. He did not respond to the officers’ initial attempts at rousing him, and had to be shaken “vigorously” before he woke up, records state.
Upon waking, Flanigan appeared disoriented and confused, the officers reported. Flanigan allegedly told them he had a 2-year-old boy, but when asked if he knew where the child was, said, “I guess I don’t.”
While inside the home, officers found a marijuana grow operation consisting of two mature plants and 10 smaller plants
Officers also reported finding two small bongs and a “makeshift apparatus” that contained marijuana residue.
The officers contacted the child’s mother, who came back to the residence. Flanigan allegedly admitted that the grow operation was his, and neither he nor the child’s mother have a medical marijuana card.
According to previous reports, the children were taken into the care of family services.
Flanigan remains in custody at the Flathead County Detention Center.