Man Found Living Under Porch

PALATKA,FL -- Palatka Police say they busted a crack house Monday morning, and what they found at the house surprised them.

Officers went to 1107 South 10th Street to serve an arrest warrant and arrested six people in the house.

Officers also found someone living underneath the front porch.

In a space that was only four-and-a-half feet tall, there was a television, bed, chair, micro-wave... even a toaster.

Assistant Chief James Griffith with the Palatka Police said, he's never come across something like that before.

"As far as setting up a residence with electricity running off of extension cords underneath a house, no -- I can't recall any like that," Griffith said.

Police say 23-year-old Thomas Tyrone Williams was living under the house. He was arrested for drug possession.

While investigators said they found one of the worst crack houses they've ever seen and an unusual dwelling underneath it, they also discovered seven children in the house.

All of the children are younger than six years old.

"Most disturbing was some of the crack cocaine was found in one of the backpacks that belonged to one of the children," Griffith said.

30-year-old Christopher Crowley and 28-year-old Taronda Mack were arrested on drug charges and child abuse.

Griffith said the children are now with relatives and the Department of Children and Families has been notified about the case.
By Jessica Clark
First Coast News
2/25/2008 8:39:03 PM