Parents of truant children locked up

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - If your kids aren't in class, you could end up in handcuffs.

Dayton police and the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office teamed up with Dayton Public Schools Thursday morning to arrest parents whose kids have not been showing up to class.

The Juvenile Detention Center, Dayton police officers, Montgomery County sheriff's deputies, truancy officers and children's services workers teamed up for the mission.

"You're not going after hard criminals, but you're going after parents who just don't understand how important it is to get these children to school," said Judge Nick Kuntz, Montgomery County Juvenile Court.

Their target was 19 parents whose kids, kindergarten through 4th grade, are truant.

They started in the morning to catch them at home. They immediately met their mark.

They soon found a mother reluctant to come out and they learned why.

When the door finally opened, officers found two young children who should have been in the classroom, not their living room.

She and all the others will be held in jail overnight to appear before a judge Friday morning.

"In order to be able to succeed, they need an education and so it hurts you as a human being to know that they're not getting an education and that right to succeed in life," said Rebecca Brewer, Supervisor, Start Right Program.

Police are still adding up the final tally of arrests.