An Oklahoma couple was arrested on August 30 for allegedly leaving their three young children home alone while they traveled approximately 20 minutes to play pickleball. Andrew Dick and Feather Roberts were charged with three counts of child neglect after officers responded to a Glenpool home.
Police were alerted by a 911 hang-up call that raised concerns about the children's welfare. When officers arrived, they found an eight-year-old, a five-year-old, and a one-year-old without adult supervision. The older two children were reportedly watching television, while the youngest was asleep.
Dick and Roberts were contacted and initially told authorities the children were with a sitter. However, an individual who checked on the home discovered the children were alone. The parents later returned to the residence and confirmed they had been playing pickleball at Courts and Commons in Bixby.
When questioned by officers, Roberts stated the children had access to an iPad to contact them in an emergency. Police noted that the couple also had an infant child who was elsewhere in the care of a babysitter. During the investigation, officers gathered information suggesting the children had previously been left unsupervised.
The pickleball facility, Courts and Commons, is located about 11 miles from the Glenpool home. The venue offers pickleball courts, a food hall, and outdoor space.
Dick and Roberts were each charged with three counts of child neglect. SOURCE1