5 kids found living in SUV in Vancouver along with dogs, drugs were living inside a vehicle packed with trash and controlled substances when officers found them Monday, leading to the arrest of three adults and the removal of the minors into protective custody.

Officers responded to the vehicle near the intersection of SE Mill Plain Blvd and NE 104th Ave after receiving a call about people living in a car, Vancouver police said. When they opened the vehicle, officers described a cramped, unsanitary environment that placed both children and animals at risk.

“The kids had very little food available and showed clear signs of neglect,” the department said in a statement. Police noted the interior was packed with belongings and refuse and that the scene contained drug paraphernalia and controlled substances. “During the investigation, officers located methamphetamine on one of the suspects, and another suspect admitted there was fentanyl inside the vehicle,” the statement added.

Three adults—identified by police as Natalie Gebron, Zachariah Edwards and Corleone Lewis—were arrested Monday on charges related to the presence of drugs and the dangerous conditions inside the vehicle, Vancouver police said. Authorities released specific charging documents for all three suspects by the time of reporting.

Officers removed the five children from the vehicle and turned them over to child protective services, which assumed responsibility for evaluating and placing the children following the initial welfare check, police said. The agency will conduct further assessments and determine longer-term placement and needed services, according to authorities.

Alongside the children, three dogs were also living inside the vehicle. Two of the animals were described by officers as extremely underweight. A third dog was suffering from an open tumor and was humanely euthanized after veterinarians determined it could not be treated on scene, Vancouver police said.

Investigators processed the scene and continued interviews as part of an evolving case. Police reiterated that the discovery prompted an investigation into potential neglect and substance-related offenses, and that the presence of methamphetamine on one person and an admission of fentanyl in the vehicle were elements being explored by detectives.

Officials emphasized that the signs present at the scene matched common indicators of neglect. Common signs of child neglect include poor hygiene, inappropriate or insufficient clothing for weather conditions, chronic hunger or fatigue, frequent absences from school, and lack of necessary medical or dental care, experts say. Similar red flags for animals can include extreme underweight, untreated injuries or illnesses, and unsanitary living conditions.

Families dealing with drug addiction have access to multiple support resources designed to help both children and parents, officials noted while urging anyone in similar circumstances to seek help. Mutual support groups like Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, Adult Children of Alcoholics and Families of Addicts provide peer support and coping strategies for family members affected by substance use.

On broader trends, authorities declined to provide a specific statewide tally linking child neglect directly to drug abuse in Oregon over the past year. Based on available data, parent or caregiver substance use remains the most common family stress factor cited in child abuse cases, a pattern child welfare specialists have repeatedly highlighted. How many cases of child neglect related to drug abuse have been reported in Oregon over the past year.

The account of children and animals living inside a trash-filled, drug-laced vehicle drew attention from local outlets, including CBS12, which reported on the initial discovery and arrests. Vancouver police said they would release additional details as the investigation and any resulting prosecutions proceed.

The department urged residents who suspect children or animals are being neglected to report concerns to law enforcement or local child protective services so authorities can investigate and intervene when necessary.

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Original reporting: view the original article.