In re Royal G. CA2/2

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

I. Initial Referral and Investigation

On or around September 17, 2022, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) received a report that both Royal and his mother, J.S. (mother), tested positive for cocaine and marijuana at the child’s birth. When

Royal has a full sibling, M.G., and a half-sibling, D.R., neither of whom are involved in this case.

2 hospital staff tried to talk to father, he “act[ed] very abrasive[,]” refused to provide any information, and unsuccessfully tried to physically remove mother from the hospital. When father became aware that the hospital would contact DCFS, he asked “Man you don’t have to report it, do you?” That same day, a social worker interviewed mother at the hospital. Father left the hospital before he could be interviewed. A few days later, father called DCFS and asserted that he “has nothing to do with th[is] . . . case and that he did nothing wrong.” The social worker met father for an in-person interview later that week. Father denied using cocaine (or any drug other than marijuana), ever seeing mother use cocaine, and being aggressive with hospital staff. On September…