Man charged with child abuse, endangerment

March 21--A Chickasha man was arrested on Thursday after police discovered a small child with bruises living in unsafe conditions.

Officers discovered drug paraphernalia within reach of the five-year-old, according to a Grady County Courthouse affidavit. During a search, officers discovered a syringe containing dried blood under the child's bed, according to the affidavit. This syringe tested positive for traces of methamphetamine, the report said.

Chickasha Police responded to a complaint of possible child abuse. The reporting party observed a male subject hitting a child several times on the head,

Officer Clayton Hobbs made contact the child, who had redness around his eye and bruises on the child's arms, legs and back area, according to the affidavit.

A Department of Human Services worker determined that Everett Buchanan had been hitting the child with objects in the residence, according to the affidavit.

Buchanan had confirmed warrants out of Grady County and was arrested for the warrants, the report said.

Everett admitted to having a marijuana pipe on a small table next to his bed, the report said. When officers retrieved the pipe, it had burnt residue and was easily accessible to the child, the affidavit said.

"I noticed that every adult that was in the residence showed signs of drug abuse. They had fast jerky movements, ridged muscle tone, grinding of teeth, rapid and sudden speech, twitching of fingers, and sores on their arms, legs, and face that are commonly associated with those who abuse drugs," Officer Hobbs said in the affidavit.

It was determined that Buchanan becomes violent when he comes off his high. A person in the residence said when Buchanan is high, he starts "hearing baby's screaming and burning in hell," the report said.

The child was taken into protective custody. Buchanan was transported to the Grady County Jail on charges of child abuse, child neglect, child endangerment, and numerous drug related charges, the affidavit said.

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