In re K.L. CA3

BACKGROUND

Original Petition The minor (then two years old) was initially removed from the custody of mother and father B.L. (father) in May 2022 due to the parents’ alcohol abuse and acts of domestic violence in the minor’s presence. The Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (Agency) filed a dependency petition pursuant to section 300, subdivisions (b) and (g), describing a particular incident during which mother was intoxicated while driving and father was reaching into the car attempting to turn off the ignition. Mother dragged father approximately 50 feet while he was holding the minor in his arms until father, fearing he would drop her, threw the minor into the car. Mother was arrested. However, the following day, she declined to drug test and claimed not to know the minor’s whereabouts. Law enforcement officers eventually found the minor with the maternal grandmother, who was hiding with the child in the bathroom. The petition also alleged father was briefly incarcerated at the county jail after becoming heavily intoxicated, purposely crashing his car in an attempt to kill himself and then shooting at responding officers. The juvenile court ordered the minor…