News

Actions

Couple arrested for selling drugs, child neglect

Posted at 5:51 PM, Aug 25, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-25 17:51:37-04

Plant City Police arrested a couple they say was selling drugs out of the Plant City trailer off of State Road 574. Once inside of the home, police say they found at least one child living in deplorable conditions.

"You can tell just by the way it looks outside...it looks like they don't take care of the place." Neighbor Anna Rodriguez said.

The front of the trailer has a large broken window. The outside is littered with broken glass, beer bottles and cans, trash and children's toys.

"That's dangerous for the kids, you know, broken glass bottles and stuff." Rodriguez said.

Police arrested Juan and Alisha Guillen yesterday.

The arrest report describes the inside of the home as being infested with bugs. It describes rotting food laying around, beer bottles on the floor, counters and furniture and the bathroom floors covered in used toilet paper.

Rodriguez says she's not surprised the inside is so filthy, but when asked why she never called police or the Department of Children and Families, she said she never saw any abuse.

As it turns out, tips of abuse and neglect are the main way investigators get involved.

"If calls aren't made, we don't know." Captain James Bradford, commander of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Child Protective Investigations Division, said.

He says more concerned neighbors need to call if they suspect abuse or neglect.

"If they don't, who will?" he asked.

He wants people to know all reports can remain anonymous. So, neighbors will not know you are the person who called. If you suspect abuse or neglect, call 1-800-96-ABUSE.