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James J. Rife, 22, of 3055 S. Township Road 32, was charged Monday with three counts of child endangering.
Around 2:25 p.m., officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department were called to west Chillicothe Avenue near the railroad tracks and met with a woman who found two young children walking near the tracks. She had sheltered them in her vehicle while waiting for police.
Both were dirty and without shoes or pants. The officer took the 5-year-old boy and 2-year-old girl in his cruiser and began driving westbound on Chillicothe. He stopped when they pointed to 604 W. Chillicothe.
The officer approached the residence and observed the defendant through a glass front storm door.
He ignored the officer’s command to come to the door and ran upstairs.
He was spotted by a neighbor running out the back door.
The officer pursued him northward to 413 Lawrence St. where the suspect tried to hide among several bicycles.
Another officer arrived and Rife was taken into custody.
He told police he was supposed to be watching three children at the residence, but fell asleep, allowing the two to get out of the residence.
A child was found asleep in the residence after Rife ran off.
He was lodged in the Logan County Jail.
Assault charge filed
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