Toddler helps sheriff’s deputies arrest fugitive

Whitley County Sheriff’s deputies are crediting an honest toddler with helping to apprehend a fugitive.

On Friday, Whitley County Sheriff’s deputies Brentley Patrick and Jarrett Carr along with officers from the Williamsburg Police Department and the Kentucky State Police went to an address in Williamsburg attempting to serve a woman with multiple outstanding warrants for her arrest, according to a sheriff’s department release.

While investigating the fugitive’s whereabouts, no adult family member would say whether the fugitive was inside the house.

“A very brave and honest toddler stood up, put his hands on his hips, and stated, ‘it is good to be honest … we shouldn’t lie, she is inside the room next to the bathroom!’”

Deputies then found her hiding in the described location, the release noted.

Patrick commended the toddler for his integrity and service to the community.

Deputies served Tina Marie Hicks, 45, of Williamsburg with two outstanding Whitley Circuit Court indictment warrants that each charged her with possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. She was also served with four other outstanding district court warrants, the release stated.

The sheriff’s department later clarified that the child involved was at the residence visiting family.

“He was healthy, intelligent, and in no way appeared to be abused. He was just at the wrong place wrong time. If deputies thought he was a potential victim of repercussions, it would have been dealt with,” the sheriff’s department wrote in a comment on their Facebook post.

Hicks was booked into the Whitley County Detention Center at 10 p.m. Friday.

She is scheduled to be arraigned on March 6 in Whitley Circuit Court in connection with her two indictments.

Williamsburg Police officers Bryson Lawson, Steven Hill and Chad Foley in addition to KSP Trooper Logan Mallory assisted at the scene.