CINCINNATI -- A man experiencing homelessness whom Maslow’s Army had put up in a hotel Downtown is accused of throwing his girlfriend’s infant child on the ground, according to court documents.
Sam and Susan Landis, of the antipoverty organization Maslow’s Army, bought Robert Clark, Jaquita Moore and a 9-month-old child 10 nights at the Millenium Downtown Monday after staff at the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky tried unsuccessfully for more than an hour to help them find an appropriate shelter where they could stay.
But Clark, the Landises discovered, faces charges of wanton endangerment and assault in Fayette County, Kentucky.
According to court documents, Moore told police on Dec. 12 Clark grabbed her by the hair, threw her to the ground and stepped on her throat. She said Clark then threw the infant on the floor twice, causing him “to strike his head and body on the hardwood.”
Sam said he and his wife felt an “ethical, moral and legal” responsibility to find a place for the child to stay, but he said he could tell there was something off about the family. The Landises said they spent days checking on Clark, Moore and the infant at the hotel to get to know them, but they kept getting the feeling something was wrong.
“Things weren't adding up right away,” Sam said. “They weren't very grateful, and they kept saying they were bouncing from city to city, so all kinds of red flags were appearing.”
Police took Clark and Moore into custody Wednesday night. Moore faces charges for failure to appear for child support in Delaware County, Indiana.
Susan said she is devastated the child could have been abused, but she is also relieved that police now have Clark in custody.
“We did everything humanly possible to protect and help this family and help this baby, and I'm really, I mean we both are having a very, very hard time dealing with it,” Susan said.
Despite the initial devastation, the Landises said they’re relieved the child is safe.
“It feels good today that we're able make a difference, fill these gaps in the system and just be a part of a miracle,” Sam said.
Clark is being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center and will be extradited to Fayette County. The child is now staying with a relative.
