Foster mom arrested for child abuse

Foster mom arrested for child abuse
By Jon Johnson
Assistant Editor
Published on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 10:11 PM MST

Children who are orphaned or are victims of cruelty by their biological parents often find themselves placed in foster care. It is therefore that much more reprehensible when those children are victimized by the very person who is paid to care for them.

Tammy Andrews, 39, of Safford was arrested Wednesday on charges of child abuse, unlawful imprisonment and aggravated assault.

According to a press release from the Safford Police Department, officers were dispatched to residence in Safford on Feb. 11 in regard to a report of a 10-year-old boy being stabbed in the hand by his foster mother.
Tammy Andrews sits in a Safford Police Department interview chair prior to speaking with detectives. Andrews was arrested for child abuse, unlawful imprisonment and aggravated assault.




Subsequent investigation revealed the victim lived with Andrews at her residence on Santa Fe Street and had fled the home after he was attacked.

The child was placed into the care of Child Protective Services at that time, and a search warrant was executed at Andrews' house. Several items of evidence were collected during the search, according to the report.

It stated further investigation by Safford detectives and a thorough medical examination of the victim appear to validate allegations of a long history of "significant abuse and neglect of the child" by Andrews.

A second warrant was served on the residence Feb. 24. Additional items were seized and Andrews was arrested. The police investigation is ongoing. Andrews was being interviewed by detectives when this update was posted, and Chief John Griffin said she would be booked into the Graham County Jail after the detectives finish their interview.

The Courier will update this story as more information becomes available.

http://www.eacourier.com/articles/2010/02/24/news/breaking_news/doc4b85f496af096689009179.txt