CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A Chillicothe police officer intervened to prevent a potentially dangerous situation Saturday night after finding young children in the roadway on East Water Street.
According to a police report, an officer on patrol around 9:13 p.m. on December 20, 2025, was traveling westbound on East Water Street near the railroad tracks when he observed a small child, estimated to be 2 to 3 years old, stumbling in the roadway as vehicles approached. The officer also saw an older child, believed to be around 6 years old, attempting to guide the younger child out of traffic.
The officer blocked traffic with his patrol vehicle and secured the children to prevent injury. Shortly afterward, a man exited a nearby residence at 400 block of East Water Street and identified himself as Dusten Cummings. Cummings told police he was responsible for watching the children while their parents were at work and said he had instructed them to remain inside the home.
Police identified the younger child as born November, 2023.
While officers were on scene, the children’s father, arrived from work and was informed of the incident. He told police he would remain home with the children for the rest of the evening.
As a result of the incident, Cummings was issued a citation for child endangerment and given a court date of January 5, 2026, at 9 a.m.
No injuries were reported.
