Five children were found infested with fleas, lice and bedbugs and sweating in the back of a U-haul truck Wednesday, police said.
The children were in the back of the truck with Jamie Adkins, 25, while Brian Dekam, 55, drove them to a flea market, according to WKYC.
They stopped at a gas station when a customer saw the children in the back and called police.
Adkins had been babysitting four of the children for about two weeks. The mother knew about the plan to take them the nearly 40-mile drive in the back of a U-haul and called it fun, police said.
Adkins and Dekam were arrested and charged with multiple counts of endangering children, including one charge that is a third-degree felony. They were released and expected in court Thursday.
The youngest, just 2 years old, was airlifted to the hospital because of heat exhaustion. The other children had no major injuries, according to WKYC.
All of them are in the custody of Cuyahoga County children services. The four younger children, whom Adkins was watching, will be put into foster care.
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