In re Michael U. CA2/1

background to what is necessary to explain our disposition. A. Facts Leading to the Filing of the Dependency Petition 1. Prior Referral History The family was first referred to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in May 2014. The referral alleged that Father had committed domestic violence against Mother in Michael Jr.’s presence by pushing her against a vehicle and grabbing her by the neck. Mother reported the incident to law enforcement and entered a domestic violence shelter. Mother also stated there had been numerous prior unreported incidents of domestic violence. Mother was issued an emergency protective order and granted temporary custody of Michael Jr. (who was at that point the parents’ only child). DCFS closed the referral as inconclusive. A second referral occurred in September 2019. The caller, who lived near Mother and Father, reported hearing Father beating Mother every night for the past two weeks. The referral stated that the caller also had received information from the caller’s family (who was present when the caller was away from

3 home) that yelling and screaming was coming from Mother and Father’s house, that it…