Boy, 11, Says Parents Forced Him To Sell Drugs
Police Found Drugs, Guns, Money At Suspect's Residence
POSTED: 8:33 p.m. EDT September 25, 2002
UPDATED: 8:48 p.m. EDT September 25, 2002
PHILADELPHIA -- A Philadelphia couple faces drug charges after being turned in by their 11-year-old son.
According to police, the son was fed-up because his parents were forcing him to sell drugs.
Edward Sheed, 36, and Rhonda Overton, 34, were arrested after their son went to 16th District Police Station and told officers that his father would beat him if he refused to sell drugs. He reportedly told officers that his father said that police would never search an 11-year-old for drugs and that's why he forced him to hold the illegal substances.
"The boy described several weeks of activity where he was driven to north Philadelphia and ordered to sell drugs, hold a loaded weapon and/or hold narcotics for his father," said Officer William Brophy of the Philadelphia Police Department.
The Department of Children and Families said that the boy has been placed with relatives.
During a press conference, officials said that after the boy talked to them they made two drug buys from Sheed and got search warrants for his two residences.
"We executed the search warrants (Tuesday) night, confiscated two guns, 63 packets of marijuana (and) $3,800 in cash," said the police representative. "We then transported the child over to the Special Victims' Unit where additional charges were placed on the father of corrupting the morals of a minor and endangering the welfare of a child."
Police said that Overton was arrested because she had been around the drugs, knew that the father was forcing her son to sell them, and took no steps to prevent it from happening.
Reports revealed that Sheed is a paroled robber who got out of prison early. He was supposed to be spending his time at a Center City halfway house. Instead, police said, he has been selling drugs and forcing his son to do it with him, and then he would return to the halfway house before his midnight curfew.
Edward Sheed, 36, and Rhonda Overton, 34, were arrested after their son went to 16th District Police Station and told officers that his father would beat him if he refused to sell drugs. He reportedly told officers that his father said that police would never search an 11-year-old for drugs and that's why he forced him to hold the illegal substances.
"The boy described several weeks of activity where he was driven to north Philadelphia and ordered to sell drugs, hold a loaded weapon and/or hold narcotics for his father," said Officer William Brophy of the Philadelphia Police Department.
The Department of Children and Families said that the boy has been placed with relatives.
During a press conference, officials said that after the boy talked to them they made two drug buys from Sheed and got search warrants for his two residences.
"We executed the search warrants (Tuesday) night, confiscated two guns, 63 packets of marijuana (and) $3,800 in cash," said the police representative. "We then transported the child over to the Special Victims' Unit where additional charges were placed on the father of corrupting the morals of a minor and endangering the welfare of a child."
Police said that Overton was arrested because she had been around the drugs, knew that the father was forcing her son to sell them, and took no steps to prevent it from happening.
Reports revealed that Sheed is a paroled robber who got out of prison early. He was supposed to be spending his time at a Center City halfway house. Instead, police said, he has been selling drugs and forcing his son to do it with him, and then he would return to the halfway house before his midnight curfew.Copyright 2002 by NBC10.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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