SHEFFIELD – Sheffield Police report that a 22 year old woman left her infant son locked in a closet while she went out for a while. Ashley Renea Coker, 21, was arrested after authorities say they discovered the baby strapped into a child-seat inside a closet at her apartment at 2716 12th Avenue.
Ashley Renea Coker – Sheffield Police say she locked her baby up in a closet.
This all happened about Noon on Tuesday. Sources at the Sheffield Police Department tell The Quad-Cities Daily that they were dispatched to the apartment after a neighbor called to report the sounds of incessant infant cries coming from the closed up dwelling. The caller told police that the cries had been coming from the apartment for about an hour.
Once Police Officers got inside the apartment owned by the Sheffield Housing Authority, they found the baby inside a dark bedroom closet at the back of the apartment, strapped into the chair, with wet diapers. Mother wasn’t home. As it turned out, Ms. Coker came back to the apartment just about the time that her baby was discovered. Police say she told them that she and her 3-year old son were out on an errand, and that she just left the baby for a few minutes.
A wading pool outside the back door.
Coker is in Sheffield City Jail, being held without bond. According to a source at the Police Department, a criminal case is being prepared for the District Attorney’s Office. Preliminary charges against Coker include endangering the welfare of a child, and torture/willful abuse of a child, both are felonies under the Alabama Criminal Code.
After the infant was checked out at Helen Keller Hospital, he was placed in the care of Colbert County Department of Human Resources. It was reported that bruises and abrasions were found on the infant, likely from spankings. The 3-year old was also placed under the Department’s care.
2716 12th Ave., Blake Apartment 3-D
Additionally, Coker was charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Police reported finding the contraband inside the apartment. She was also charged with drug-related offenses.
