ST. MARYS — A Ridgway man has been charged in district court after allegedly illegally entering into another person’s home and taking his child, who was only wearing diaper, into near freezing temperatures.
Joshua John Anderson, 33, has been charged with a felony charge of criminal trespass and a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of children following an incident on Nov. 29 in St. Marys.
An affidavit of probable cause outlining the charges was obtained from the office of Magisterial District Judge Mark S. Jacob.
According to the affidavit, on Nov. 29, officers were called to a Bucktail Road residence for a report of a male taking a two-year-old child and running out of the house.
Officers made contact with Anderson’s mother, who told police that she was watching Anderson’s two young children at her daughter’s home.
She told officers that Anderson “barged in the house without knocking,” and entered through a sliding glass door on the side of the house.
Anderson reportedly picked up the two-year-old child and began to scream at occupants of the home before running out of the door with the child.
The child was reportedly only wearing a diaper and was taken out in 39-degree weather.
According to the affidavit, the homeowners had previously informed Anderson that he did not have permission to be on their property or in their home.
Approximately 30 minutes before this incident, Anderson allegedly went to the City of St. Marys Police Department to ask officers to go and get his kids for him, according to the affidavit.
Officers reportedly denied this request as Anderson “was showing signs of being under the influence of a controlled substance.”
According to the affidavit, he had “uncontrollable body movements and he had an erratic attitude,” as well as not being able to sit still and talking really fast.
According to the affidavit, an officer with the Ridgway Police Department responded to an incident involving Anderson on Nov. 28 in which he also showed signs of being under the influence.
As a result of the incident, Anderson has been charged.
A preliminary hearing has yet to be scheduled for Anderson.
Online court documents do not list a defense attorney for Anderson.
