Couple arrested after children, 1 and 3, found in street

Linda and Ricky Odom are pictured in these booking photos taken by the Pulaski County sheriff's office.
Linda and Ricky Odom are pictured in these booking photos taken by the Pulaski County sheriff's office.

A Pulaski County couple was arrested on child-endangerment charges Sunday night after their two young children were found alone in the middle of a busy street, police said.

Linda Odom, 39, and Ricky Odom, 37, were arrested shortly before 9 p.m. Each faces two counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor.

According to a Pulaski County sheriff's office arrest report, the couple's 1-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son were alone "in the middle of Dixon Road" and at one point were "almost struck by a vehicle." The couple lives in the 1200 block of Dixon Road.

A separate incident report said the children were dirty and sweaty and wearing only diapers. It also noted that it took about 50 minutes from when police were first called before Ricky Odom showed up looking for the children.

According to the arrest report, Linda Odom told investigators "she was asleep and did not know the children got out."

The youths were taken to Arkansas Children's Hospital, where police were advised they had "suspicious bruising," the incident report said. The boy "had what appeared to be old cigarette burns on his legs," that report added.

The Department of Human Services took custody of the children.

Linda and Ricky Odom each remained in the Pulaski County jail Monday morning with bail set at $2,000. Sept. 1 court dates are set.

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