Foster Child Found Chained, Padlocked in Newark Child Endangerment Case – TAPinto.net

NEWARK, NJ — A 12-year-old foster child was found chained and padlocked to fan in Newark home on Wednesday by police who were performing a wellness check, authorities said.

Wanser Brown, 66, of Newark, was arrested and faces two counts of endangering the welfare of a child,  Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose announced. 

Officials said that at approximately 10 a.m., police responded to a residence on Clinton Avenue for a wellness check of a 12-year-old student.  Responding officers located the boy confined to a bedroom and tethered to a fan by chains and padlocks, officials said.

The boy, a foster child in the care of Brown, was then taken to University Hospital for evaluation, according to officials. He was subsequently released to the custody of the New Jersey Department of Child Protection and Permanency.

This incident remains under investigation by the Special Victims Unit of the Newark Police Division and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.