Police in Michigan Seize 6 Children Because Family Was Camping in Tents

June 13, 2015

Police in Michigan Seize 6 Children Because Family Was Camping in Tents

Excerpts:

A Michigan family which had dreams of camping during the summer in the great outdoors was horrified when state officials seized their six children simply because they were temporarily living in tents, Off The Grid News has learned.

The nightmare experience for Christopher and Antonia Hernandez began May 19 when Otsego County sheriff deputies and a CPS official took their children, and ended June 10 when their children were returned after the parents won a court ruling based on the fact the mother and children are eligible for enrollment in the Tlingit Native American tribe. The federal Indian Child Welfare Act makes it more difficult for state officials to separate Native American families. Michigan has a similar state law.

If the family had not had the Tlingit link, the case still would be ongoing, with the children still in foster care.

But the removal never should have taken place, Christopher and Antonia told Off The Grid News, which has read the court documents – one of which criticizes the family for not having electricity or a water source. The family was near a state park and had purchased a pass to shower and bathe there. The parents also had a generator.

They had been living in the tents for nine days when police arrived.

“The government has tried to standardize what a home is and what a home must have, without consideration for if the children’s needs are being met or not,” Christopher and Antonia said in a joint statement. “This was not a case of neglect, but a case of the government telling us how we have to raise our children — that we must have running water, we must have electricity and we can’t stay in a tent for the summer. To the government it makes no difference if the children are happy and healthy. We need to conform to their idea of normal or they can take your children away.”

Read the full story at OffTheGridNews.com

Published on June 13, 2015

Tags: Christopher and Antonia Hernandez, Michigan|

95 Comments

clinton July 4, 2016 at 7:31 am - Reply

The ABUSE and STRESS was caused by CPS. Therefore THEY should be charged ( sued ) for child abuse. Let’s see, too much ice in iced coffee is a $5 million dollar lawsuit, this should be worth that much for EACH child

katl July 3, 2016 at 8:26 am - Reply

Kay-Aitch said:

John said:

So they should be playing video games and turned into the electronic generation…. BS… So they will be coming after me next for buying my 10 year old son a rifle and going camping in the back county… so tired of dictators saying what is right and wrong in there opinion. My child has more knowledge of life and the outdoors than most the people that make these stupid laws.
That’s why it’s becoming illegal. The Corporatists are ensuring that there are no survivors of their purge, other than themselves. This is the reason for refusal to label GMO foods, deliberate poisoning of our water and air supply, continued dependence on fossil fuel production, and a dozen other iniquities the 1% has perpetrated over the last 60 years.

US House Bill 777 mandates that no person be able to use one’s own property to grow food, without a license.
In severat States it is illegal to collect rainwater.
It’s going to get worse before it gets better, so be glad you already have the skills to live off the grid.

Do provide references on 777 please.. Since I find no text that supports your claims..

Kelly Bennett June 23, 2016 at 9:44 pm - Reply

Admin said:

A Michigan family which had dreams of camping during the summer in the great outdoors was horrified when state officials seized their six children simply because they were temporarily living in tents, according to Off The Grid News. “The government has tried to standardize what a home is and what a home must have, without consideration for if the children’s needs are being met or not,” Christopher and Antonia said in a joint statement. “This was not a case of neglect, but a case of the government telling us how we have to raise our children — that we must have running water, we must have electricity and we can’t stay in a tent for the summer. To the government it makes no difference if the children are happy and healthy. We need to conform to their idea of normal or they can take your children away."

I’m wondering why the Amish get to live this way? Yet the government even took the Indians way of life away from them. I think it’s just a piece of BS. If you don’t have a fancy camper or a fancy RV then you can’t camp. That’s just ridiculous. I’ve always wanted to live off the grid, with my family. But it’s just us now, we should be able to live like this and plan to. Oh yeah we can my husband is 1/2 Blooded Ottawa and Chippewa Indian. So bite me the State of Michigan 👎🙆🙋

Kelly Bennett June 23, 2016 at 9:44 pm - Reply

Bob said:

HELLO IT’S CAMPING! I wonder what crimes were committed in there jurisdiction at the same time they were doing wrong to these people? how many children were beaten , or abused in other ways that went unnoticed by cps because they were busy kidnaping from innocent. Did these cops ever go camping as a kid probably not. I started going camping with my dad when I was old enough to hold a fishing pole and would now take my grandchildren camping at the drop of a hat. There is nothing wrong with it at least I know they would survive if one should get lost or some disaster hit. Teaching your children to live off the land is skills needed, give a child a fish he will eat for a day teach a child to fish he will eat for a lifetime. Should a disaster hit and you had to live off the land, who would you choose for survival, the child with a fishing pole in one hand and a canteen in the other or the kid with the cellphone in one hand and a juice box in the other?

Hell yeah, we learned this in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and when I was older with kids of my own, I taught them this while I was a Cub Scout Leader and Brownie Leader.

Kelly Bennett June 23, 2016 at 9:44 pm - Reply

Jem-Moran said:

so they would have lost the kids to foster care if they had not been indian?? thats not right. shouldnt matter what or where ya come from. should still be able to truly enjoy the out of doors.

That’s true Jem-Moran, everyone should be able to enjoy the outdoors, but the Amish live that way everyday, it’s their way of life. Just like the Indians, it was their way of life too, but the government took that away from them. They should have taken it away from the Amish too, but they didn’t. But yet the Indians were here first and they made them change their way of life. It’s kind of funny how things change and the roles are reversed, people called the Indians savages for defending their land and now the American people are trying to defend their land from outsiders, just saying Karma.

Shane June 22, 2016 at 8:40 am - Reply

J–Breeze said:

K-Rossett said: > The state of mi has every reason in their minds to seize children. It’s called money. Every time a social worker in this state completes an adoption. Via the foster care system the social worker gets paid a bonus. $4000. What bs. Also a little known fact and a well kept secret. They receive a bonus for adoption. But no bonus for keeping families together. It takes a special kind of person to pretend to help you and your family reunification for the purpose of gathering evidence to get those children adopted out. Never happened to me but it has happened to people I know.

https://www.facebook.com/standingforourkids/

Shane June 22, 2016 at 8:40 am - Reply

Please join me on facebook. Long story, not going into it on here. But I too am a victim of CPS and the Michigan Government. Please join the fight, the more people aware and upset, the better the chance we can change this..

https://www.facebook.com/standingforourkids/

Shane June 22, 2016 at 8:25 am - Reply

Brian-Scott-Miller said:

Michigan has always been a problem dealing with children in the wrong way. In August of 1983 my firstborn two month old daughter Stacy was kidnapped from my now ex-wife in Grand Rapids. Fifteen hours later she was found and return just so the state could kidnap her to investigate if we neglected our child in any way that may have given cause for the kidnapping. We had an apartment, food, clothes, and love to give her. After three long dreadful years of fighting it tore apart our marriage and I ended up with custody, only to have her permanently taken from me because I was too poor to afford a place to live with her by that time. They wouldn’t even help with that. It was devastating. My head got so messed up going through all that that I about lost all my sanity for years after that. Ended up committing a crime and going to prison for years. Needed prison to get my head straightened out. Found my full grown kids last year. They were all adopted out.

https://www.facebook.com/standingforourkids/

Pete Bronson June 21, 2016 at 10:16 am - Reply

This is the same state government that poisoned the people of Flint with lead contaminated water and then tried to cover it up for a year!

Kay Aitch June 21, 2016 at 1:36 am - Reply

John said:

So they should be playing video games and turned into the electronic generation…. BS… So they will be coming after me next for buying my 10 year old son a rifle and going camping in the back county… so tired of dictators saying what is right and wrong in there opinion. My child has more knowledge of life and the outdoors than most the people that make these stupid laws.

That’s why it’s becoming illegal. The Corporatists are ensuring that there are no survivors of their purge, other than themselves. This is the reason for refusal to label GMO foods, deliberate poisoning of our water and air supply, continued dependence on fossil fuel production, and a dozen other iniquities the 1% has perpetrated over the last 60 years.

US House Bill 777 mandates that no person be able to use one’s own property to grow food, without a license.
In severat States it is illegal to collect rainwater.
It’s going to get worse before it gets better, so be glad you already have the skills to live off the grid.

Kay Aitch June 21, 2016 at 1:24 am - Reply

Patti said:

I’m going camping for a week in August. Should I be afraid?

Probably.

Kay Aitch June 21, 2016 at 1:24 am - Reply

Timothy-Dickinson said:

Are they going to give you electricity and water if you have to have it by law

Of course not. Don’t you know that poverty is a crime in this country?
It’s illegal to feed the homeless in some Cities.
But God’s mad at us because of the gays………………….
Sounds legit.
/sarcasm/

Kay Aitch June 21, 2016 at 1:24 am - Reply

MomOfIV said:

The govt doesn’t want children who are healthy, critical thinkers or are self sufficient….maybe that’s why it pushes vaccinations, anti-psychotic drugs, common core, free cell phones, self-mutilation, atheism; movies, tv shows, and cartoons with satanic themes, video games and welfare. The majority of these families under siege appear to be Christian…I’ve yet to hear about atheist families, Hindu families, or Islamic families under attack by CPS…..maybe when CPS gets desperate enough.

Mom, you had me agreeing completely, right up to the point where you said it was only Christian families being persecuted – Christians are being persecuted in Middle Eastern countries, African countries, and China, but not in the United States of America.

The vast majority of people who claim a religious affiliation in this country, claim Christianity – obviously, that is the reason there are more Christians than other religiously affliated folks, who are subjected to bizarre and inappropriate laws – there are more of you to begin with.

That said, OF COURSE families with other religious affiliations are runnig afoul of these same laws — you are NOT being "singled out." as a Christian.

The notion is patently ridiculous.

Rebecca June 21, 2016 at 1:24 am - Reply

J–Breeze said:

Mike-broiks said: > I’ve had a hell of a tale about Michigan and adoption in 04 I was preparing to deploy to Iraq when I found out my daughter and her siblings had been taken from there mother in court the mother admitted to doing coke drinking a gallon of whiskey a day and padlocking the kids in there room while she napped. 2mo later the state gave the kids back middle of my tour the kids got taken again after I got back I went to a court hearing for custody 18 hrs away and was supposed to have a visit with my daughter but the foster parents took her to ballet classes instead when it came time to figure if I was getting custody in July 06 they hinted that I wasn’t eligible because I was still in the military and still deployable then 2 mo later she was adopted by the same foster parents that thought it was more important to do ballet classes than to spend time with her father

Stanley v. Ill., 405 U.S. 645, 92 S. Ct. 1208 (1972) they are REQUIRED to give you a fitness hearing before depriving you of the fundamental liberty interest in the care, custody and management of your children. It is a violation of your due process rights if your children are taken from you without an evidentiary hearing on parental fitness.

patience June 16, 2016 at 4:52 pm - Reply

Two of my 7 children were stolen and  taken to Champion Michigan by Tamara l. Olson Taylor also known to use the last name Starkey. She ran and hid them until she could get an illegal adoption of them by using some papers she had forged claiming I signed my children over to her. There names are Dartanyan Wayne 13 and Harmony Olivia 11 Please if anyone knows or sees them let them know that there mother and siblings miss them and are being kept from contact with them by this evil kidnapper Tamara she is in her late 40’s early 50’s and was unable to have children so she stole mine.

J Breeze September 5, 2015 at 1:34 am - Reply

this is for the military Dad..Did you not know there is a VFW National home in Michigan where they would keep your kids while being deployed?VFW National children’s Home go on line & check it out . Our VFW auxillary &post suppoets it!

J Breeze September 5, 2015 at 1:33 am - Reply

Mike-broiks said:
> I’ve had a hell of a tale about Michigan and adoption in 04 I was preparing to deploy to Iraq when I found out my daughter and her siblings had been taken from there mother in court the mother admitted to doing coke drinking a gallon of whiskey a day and padlocking the kids in there room while she napped. 2mo later the state gave the kids back middle of my tour the kids got taken again after I got back I went to a court hearing for custody 18 hrs away and was supposed to have a visit with my daughter but the foster parents took her to ballet classes instead when it came time to figure if I was getting custody in July 06 they hinted that I wasn’t eligible because I was still in the military and still deployable then 2 mo later she was adopted by the same foster parents that thought it was more important to do ballet classes than to spend time with her father

J Breeze September 5, 2015 at 1:33 am - Reply

curtis said:
> sounds like a story I read about social services being called cause the parents were feeding the kids salads and organic food but if you feed them a bigmac and fries every day, thats fine

J Breeze September 5, 2015 at 1:33 am - Reply

K-Rossett said:
> The state of mi has every reason in their minds to seize children. It’s called money. Every time a social worker in this state completes an adoption. Via the foster care system the social worker gets paid a bonus. $4000. What bs. Also a little known fact and a well kept secret.  They receive a bonus for adoption. But no bonus for keeping families together.  It takes a special kind of person to pretend to help you and your family reunification for the purpose of gathering evidence to get those children adopted out. Never happened to me but it has happened to people I know.

curtis July 1, 2015 at 11:34 pm - Reply

sounds like a story I read about social services being called cause the parents were feeding the kids salads and organic food but if you feed them a bigmac and fries every day, thats fine

chrissy June 20, 2015 at 2:43 pm - Reply

This would be living just like the omish people live

Diane Tuttle-Jones June 20, 2015 at 12:48 pm - Reply

This sucks indeed, nothing but the Gov’t intrusion and well if living without one utility or the other your classified as poor, not always the case!  Living with less is a “Life Lesson” for our children, their part in the families daily rituals is required, always. The cell phone, t.w. devices have created “Little Monsters” with no respect to the parents, families have been separated due to modern day techo we must re-claim the respect  we deserve.from our kids NOW! They must be raised physically/mentally strong, by using innovative thought processing to survive in the outdoors, so it will be “Survival of the Fittest” and our kids will survive while the techno kids brain cells and muscles will atrophy……..They will never survive an assailant attack.

Richard Deitering June 19, 2015 at 3:16 pm - Reply

I use to live in that exact part of Michigan. The State park is walking distance from where I lived. As a child I played in the woods from sunrise to sunset, we even set up a summer camp. People swam in the lake (Otsego Lake), fished boated, and hunted in the area, in other words people enjoyed and learned from the outdoors. The last time I was up to Gaylord (the County Seat) very few of the old families were there and everyone I met was from down state. When I talked to the people I realized they were not the same laid back people that were accustomed to living there, rather I found a lot of city people who moved to the country just so they could turn it into city living (they should have stayed down state and enjoyed their city living). Now Gaylord has City ways and city politicians (lets not forget that the sheriff is an elected office in Michigan). I am sad to see my birth home of Gaylord turned to trash by politicians,, but that is exactly what has happened. May God bless this family just because they tried to be a family.

Brian Scott Miller June 19, 2015 at 6:22 am - Reply

Michigan has always been a problem dealing with children in the wrong way. In August of 1983 my firstborn two month old daughter Stacy was kidnapped from my now ex-wife in Grand Rapids. Fifteen hours later she was found and return just so the state could kidnap her to investigate if we neglected our child in any way that may have given cause for the kidnapping. We had an apartment, food, clothes, and love to give her. After three long dreadful years of fighting it tore apart our marriage and I ended up with custody, only to have her permanently taken from me because I was too poor to afford a place to live with her by that time. They wouldn’t even help with that. It was devastating. My head got so messed up going through all that that I about lost all my sanity for years after that. Ended up committing a crime and going to prison for years. Needed prison to get my head straightened out. Found my full grown kids last year. They were all adopted out.

Tracy Donaldson June 18, 2015 at 12:36 pm - Reply

Then people wonder why others snap when dealing with the State or Government.When it comes to going to court against the State or Government they have big Attorneys PAID FOR BY TAX PAYERS MONEY while the Parents can not afford an attorney! The State of Michigan acts like they care about Family values what a Joke they worry more about money any way they can get it .Just like we had an Overcrowding in our prison systems they did not care but yet they will now open a prison back up why?To house out of Staten prisoners .It all is the same the State offices will do whatever to make a buck.These Parents were doing nothing wrong what about the hundreds of children being raised right here in this great State in motels?There is no stove in the room and only 1 maybe 2 beds for say a Family of 5 but yet our State drove these people out of there houses.We can make sure inmates get fed and have cable and medical schooling recreation yards and everything else but yet they wont help a Person struggling in the free world.Makes no sense to me!

Char G June 19, 2015 at 7:05 am - Reply

Change who you vote for. Stop voting party lines and start paying attention to “who” that person is before voting for them. That’s where the laws are made and if you don’t agree with laws, go to your state legislators, get your time at the pulpit and fight! Everyone wants to complain about these things yet sit at home and do nothing to stop it.

c v June 18, 2015 at 6:48 am - Reply

I do not like Michigan it is one of the most crooked states in the US.pedophiles are thrown in prison for a short time and after their out they get in trouble again they just slap their wrist and put em in jail .I’d say a 2nd time Life in prison

Ronda June 17, 2015 at 9:58 pm - Reply

People camp for more than 9 days for vacation.  We used to camp for 2 weeks straight in July up in Bellaire MI At family property.   Not just us, a lot of family members did.  
We live in CO now and a lot of people love in campers, tents  etc.  
This is crazy!!!

Mike broiks June 17, 2015 at 9:18 pm - Reply

I’ve had a hell of a tale about Michigan and adoption in 04 I was preparing to deploy to Iraq when I found out my daughter and her siblings had been taken from there mother in court the mother admitted to doing coke drinking a gallon of whiskey a day and padlocking the kids in there room while she napped. 2mo later the state gave the kids back middle of my tour the kids got taken again after I got back I went to a court hearing for custody 18 hrs away and was supposed to have a visit with my daughter but the foster parents took her to ballet classes instead when it came time to figure if I was getting custody in July 06 they hinted that I wasn’t eligible because I was still in the military and still deployable then 2 mo later she was adopted by the same foster parents that thought it was more important to do ballet classes than to spend time with her father

Pat Rumsey-Craske June 18, 2015 at 5:41 pm - Reply

SO sorry , and while your fighting to keep THEM safe to take YOUR children. I pray you got them ! Do you see your daughter that they (wrongfully , in my opinion) adopted.

K Rossett June 17, 2015 at 6:16 pm - Reply

The state of mi has every reason in their minds to seize children. It’s called money. Every time a social worker in this state completes an adoption. Via the foster care system the social worker gets paid a bonus. $4000. What bs. Also a little known fact and a well kept secret.  They receive a bonus for adoption. But no bonus for keeping families together.  It takes a special kind of person to pretend to help you and your family reunification for the purpose of gathering evidence to get those children adopted out. Never happened to me but it has happened to people I know.

Elizabeth smith June 17, 2015 at 4:47 pm - Reply

Complete and utter ignorance on the part of Michigan!! The government is now saying? No family time, no vacations, complete bs!!!!!!!

Kari Viccaro June 17, 2015 at 2:21 pm - Reply

Wow i can’t belive this story is true! A couple years ago the lady i rented from raised our rent to a ridiculous amount so we bought a camper and stayed in it for two months while house hunting in Michigan.  We had an amazing summer that year i never felt closer to my family and im so greatful for that summer memories that will last a life time were made that year. How scary to think my family could have been ripped apart for enjoying our summer together. I’m glad things worked out for this family.

Randi March June 17, 2015 at 1:52 pm - Reply

I moved out if Michigan for a reason. This happens way too much. All about the money. Leave the drug dealers to their madness and get the good parents who really care. It’s so backwards up there!

J June 17, 2015 at 9:41 am - Reply

I’ve lost my kids to this insanity. That state (and many others) are so corrupted. This family lucked out, they had the tribal stuff on their side, mine did not. We spent a summer camping, thought it would be good for the kids, had a camper even…apparently you can’t do that anymore, and it causes them to never leave you alone. Once you are in their system, they plan to keep you there, after all you are their meal ticket. I hope that family chooses a different state to live in, I did!