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Shameful. This is the way a cult would treat children.
CPD charges woman with sexual battery after abuse report at migrant children shelter
by WTVC
Wednesday, June 30th 2021
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A woman who worked at a facility housing unaccompanied migrant children in Chattanooga now faces charges including sexual battery by an authority figure.
The Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) on Wednesday announced Randi Duarte was arrested in connection to a report of abuse at the old Tennessee Temple dorms in Highland Park, a facility managed by the federally-contracted Baptiste Group.
The Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS) opened an investigation after an unannounced visit to the site.
During their visit, one of the children told investigators they saw another boy kissing a staff member.
Chattanooga Police charged Randi Duarte with sexual battery by an authority figure, coercion of a witness, and tampering with evidence.
CPD is working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Hamilton County District Attorney's Office on the investigation, which they say is ongoing.
Police say Duarte is currently in Whitfield County Jail, and will be extradited to Hamilton County at a later date.
Additionally, CPD says the 16-year-old boy who was reported as a missing runaway from the same facility earlier this month has since been found safe with his family in Guatemala....
FIRST ON 3: Late-night flights carrying migrant children arrive in Chattanooga
Chattanooga’s Wilson Air Center is receiving planes carrying migrant children who are being bused to multiple southeastern cities during overnight hours.
Wednesday, May 19th 2021, 2:31 PM EDT
Updated: Thursday, May 20th 2021, 5:14 AM EDT By Callie Starnes
By Mary Francis Hoots
Chattanooga’s Wilson Air Center is receiving planes carrying migrant children who are being bused to multiple southeastern cities during overnight hours.
Channel 3 obtained video of one of those planes arriving Friday, May 14 shortly before 1:30 a.m.
A second video, shared with Channel 3, shows more children arriving late Saturday night. According to the source who provided the video, a third plane carrying children arrived Friday afternoon. Flight records confirm that a fourth plane arrived early Wednesday morning, May 19.
The video obtained by Channel 3, shows children who appear to be in their early teens carrying matching bags. The children then boarded buses, which were staged on the runway. Two of the four buses seen in the video are owned by Coast to Coast Tours of East Point, Georgia.
According to a Coast-to-Coast employee, the buses were dispatched to Chattanooga as part of a contract with the United States Department of Defense. The employee says this was the first time the company had been asked to pick up migrant children in Chattanooga. In the past, the company’s drivers have traveled to Mobile, Alabama, and Atlanta to transport children, according to the employee.
“They don’t give us very much information,” the employee told Channel 3.
She confirmed the two buses seen in the video left Chattanooga for Miami, Florida, and Dallas, Texas. She added that the children are not allowed to get off the bus during the trip and three or four chaperones, who are not employed by the bus company are onboard at all times. She says the bus company requires chaperones when transporting “children under the age of 18.”
Channel 3 reached out to Knoxville Tours, Little Rock Coaches, and Malone Bussing Services, all of which Channel 3 confirmed assisted over the weekend, but we have not heard back. Malone Bussing Services is located in Cleveland, Tennessee.
A source with direct knowledge of the operation asked to remain anonymous but tells Channel 3 that approximately 30 to 50 minors are transported at a time, some to reunite with family members and others to go to group homes...
CPD charges woman with sexual battery after abuse report at migrant children shelter
by WTVC
Wednesday, June 30th 2021
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A woman who worked at a facility housing unaccompanied migrant children in Chattanooga now faces charges including sexual battery by an authority figure.
The Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) on Wednesday announced Randi Duarte was arrested in connection to a report of abuse at the old Tennessee Temple dorms in Highland Park, a facility managed by the federally-contracted Baptiste Group.
The Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS) opened an investigation after an unannounced visit to the site.
During their visit, one of the children told investigators they saw another boy kissing a staff member.
Chattanooga Police charged Randi Duarte with sexual battery by an authority figure, coercion of a witness, and tampering with evidence.
CPD is working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Hamilton County District Attorney's Office on the investigation, which they say is ongoing.
Police say Duarte is currently in Whitfield County Jail, and will be extradited to Hamilton County at a later date.
Additionally, CPD says the 16-year-old boy who was reported as a missing runaway from the same facility earlier this month has since been found safe with his family in Guatemala....
FIRST ON 3: Late-night flights carrying migrant children arrive in Chattanooga
Chattanooga’s Wilson Air Center is receiving planes carrying migrant children who are being bused to multiple southeastern cities during overnight hours.
Wednesday, May 19th 2021, 2:31 PM EDT
Updated: Thursday, May 20th 2021, 5:14 AM EDT By Callie Starnes
By Mary Francis Hoots
Chattanooga’s Wilson Air Center is receiving planes carrying migrant children who are being bused to multiple southeastern cities during overnight hours.
Channel 3 obtained video of one of those planes arriving Friday, May 14 shortly before 1:30 a.m.
A second video, shared with Channel 3, shows more children arriving late Saturday night. According to the source who provided the video, a third plane carrying children arrived Friday afternoon. Flight records confirm that a fourth plane arrived early Wednesday morning, May 19.
The video obtained by Channel 3, shows children who appear to be in their early teens carrying matching bags. The children then boarded buses, which were staged on the runway. Two of the four buses seen in the video are owned by Coast to Coast Tours of East Point, Georgia.
According to a Coast-to-Coast employee, the buses were dispatched to Chattanooga as part of a contract with the United States Department of Defense. The employee says this was the first time the company had been asked to pick up migrant children in Chattanooga. In the past, the company’s drivers have traveled to Mobile, Alabama, and Atlanta to transport children, according to the employee.
“They don’t give us very much information,” the employee told Channel 3.
She confirmed the two buses seen in the video left Chattanooga for Miami, Florida, and Dallas, Texas. She added that the children are not allowed to get off the bus during the trip and three or four chaperones, who are not employed by the bus company are onboard at all times. She says the bus company requires chaperones when transporting “children under the age of 18.”
Channel 3 reached out to Knoxville Tours, Little Rock Coaches, and Malone Bussing Services, all of which Channel 3 confirmed assisted over the weekend, but we have not heard back. Malone Bussing Services is located in Cleveland, Tennessee.
A source with direct knowledge of the operation asked to remain anonymous but tells Channel 3 that approximately 30 to 50 minors are transported at a time, some to reunite with family members and others to go to group homes...
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