I left my ex when my son was 2. Big part was she drank and was taking drugs. 2 things I abhor. For the next year I lived in horror cause I knew my son wasn’t safe, many, many times I would call to say good night to my son, she would have him out late driving drunk. I called Police, filed reports with DSS. They kept telling me I was just an angry Dad trying to get revenge. Many calls, many reports. Got a call one night on a Friday at 11:30 pm. Was her friend who said they were in a car accident, mother was arrested and my son would be staying with her that night. Never met this person ever, never even spoken to her. I said no, I’m coming to get my son, she protested but ef that, I’m coming to get my 3 year old. I called Police to help get directions to her house(no gps then), they had no idea and couldn’t help me. Eventually I got there, woman said he ate too much and had gas. Found him crying, couldn’t walk was in so much pain. Picked him up and drove straight to Emergency Room. They took him right in for a CAT Scan. Doctor came out and said if I hadn’t brought him in, he would’ve been dead by morning as he was bleeding out internally. He had a lacerated liver, lacerated kidney and had a hole in his intestines. This was in NH and they had to put him up in an ambulance and rush him to Boston Childrens Hospital.
Mother was drunk and tested positive for ****** and Percocet and in jail.
Next week was rough, had to have a meeting with Police, Staff Psychologist and oh, DSS were there. They were all sitting when I walked in. I looked straight at DSS EXPERT and asked why they were there as I held them and Police responsible and that they had my son’s blood on their hands. I had warned them repeatedly that this was going to happen. They couldn’t look me in the eye. Police said mother had refused my son medical attention at the accident scene 5 times. Says so in Police report I still have. I said, if she was drunk and you arrested her, then YOU had custody of my son. And you should’ve sent him to the hospital! They never called me the night of the accident, they called her drunk friend to come pick up my 3 year old at the accident scene.
I called at least 5 different lawyers, they all listened and said they’d get back to me. They ALL said in the end “we don’t litigate against the Police”.
I’ve had custody of my son since. I feel lucky actually.
BTW- mom just last week got her 4th DUI