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Police: 6 kids found living in truck in north Phoenix, parents arrested

PD: 6 kids found living in truck in Phoenix
PD: 6 kids found living in truck in Phoenix
Posted at 10:16 AM, Jun 25, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-28 15:54:39-04

Police say a couple is accused of living out of a pickup truck with their six kids in north Phoenix.

Phoenix police report that on Sunday morning they spotted a small truck reported stolen in a parking lot near 27th and Peoria avenues.

Inside the truck, police reportedly found six children ranging in age from 11 months to 7 years old.

Police say the children were sleeping in and around the truck, which was parked in a restaurant parking lot at Metrocenter Mall.

Police described the conditions in the truck as "deplorable." Most of the children were "half-clothed, with no shoes and/or clean diapers." Police say the children were, "very dirty," and appeared that they hadn’t been bathed "in a while."

The children were taken by the Department of Child Safety and the mother, 27-year-old Priscilla Barrera was arrested for child abuse. The father, 24-year-old Joshua Tyler Watson was also arrested for child abuse and outstanding warrants.

Police say he was found in possession of methamphetamine and cocaine and admitted to driving the stolen truck.