911 call: ‘I just saw a gentleman shove a child into his trunk’

UPDATE @ 1:19 p.m. (May 24):

A woman called 911 after she said she saw a man shove a child into the trunk of a vehicle in a driveway on U.S. 127 south of Greenville.

“I just saw a gentleman shove a child into his trunk,” the caller told 911 dispatchers.  "He pulled off into someone's driveway…shoved the child in his trunk and took off."

As the caller continued to give information to dispatchers, deputies located the vehicle and stopped it in the area of U.S. 127 and Ohio 49.

The driver, John Anderson, 36, of Hamilton, admitted to deputies there was a child in the trunk of the vehicle.

Joseph said deputies opened the trunk and removed the child, who did not appear to be physically harmed.

According to statements from the mother, 30-year-old Kristine Grimbleby, also of Hamilton, and Anderson, the boy was put in the trunk as a disciplinary measure.

Both adults will be summonsed into court.

INITIAL REPORT:

A 10-year-old boy found in the trunk of a car in Darke County on Monday night has prompted a criminal investigation focused on the actions of his mother and her boyfriend.

A passer-by, who saw what appeared to be someone putting a child in the trunk of a four-door sedan about 8:30 p.m., called 9-1-1 and followed the car until sheriff's deputies stopped the car in the area of U.S. 127 and state Route 49, Deputy Jamie Joseph said Tuesday evening.

The driver, John Anderson, 36, of Hamilton, admitted to deputies there was a child in the trunk of the vehicle.

Joseph said deputies opened the trunk and removed the child, who did not appear to be physically harmed.

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According to statements from the mother, 30-year-old Kristine Grimbleby, also of Hamilton, and Anderson, the boy was put in the trunk as a disciplinary measure.

"Anderson told deputies it was done as a joke," Deputy Joseph said, "their attempt at trying to teach the child a minor lession."

Grimbleby, the deputy said, told authorities she agreed with the punishment and didn't see anything wrong with what was going on.

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Anderson and Grimbleby were in Darke County, on their way to meet with the boy's biological father as part of a custody exchange. Deputies, after interviewing both adults and being satisfied the child had not been harmed, allowed the trip to continue.

The child is with his father, in another county, Deputy Joseph said.

Both adults will be summonsed into court, Anderson on a charge of child endangering and Grimbleby on charges of drug possession (marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the sheriff's office.

In the meantime, Darke County Children Services and the Butler County Prosecutor's Office are investigating Monday night's incident to decide whether more serious charges should be pursued.

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