Child covered in food, feces leads to Altoona man’s arrest

ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — A 5-year-old was seen at Sheetz, allegedly covered in food and feces, prompting a call to Altoona police and the arrest of the child’s father.

Gavin James Lynch, 27, of Altoona, was charged with child endangerment, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness after police were called to Sheetz on Plank Road in Altoona Sunday, Aug. 11, at around 7:14 p.m.

According to charges filed, police arrived to find Lynch and his 5-year-old daughter walking down Plank Road. Police said a Sheetz employee inside had called 911 after the two were inside of the store where Lynch allegedly bought a Black & Mild. The employee told police the child had on socks but no shoes and when they left, Lynch left one of the kid’s socks behind.

Police said when they found Lynch and the child, he was sitting with the kid in his lap and he was swaying back and forth, the criminal complaint reads. Police noted that his pupils were dilated and he was unresponsive to them. They also observed the child to be covered in filth that appeared to be food and feces and that flies and gnats were being attracted to her diaper, which appeared to be full.

As time passed and Lynch became more coherent, police said he claimed he got into an argument with the child’s mother and she left them. Lynch went on to tell police that someone passing by offered them food from McDonald’s and that he was just trying to get home, the complaint shows. Lynch, while coherent, was still slurring his speech. Police asked if he was under the influence of anything and he claimed he hadn’t used anything in six months.

According to the complaint, Lynch proceeded to show signs of impairment during multiple field sobriety tests administered by officers. When placed into custody, police noted that they could then smell alcohol on Lynch’s breath. He allegedly began to tense up and thrash back and forth, resisting being put in a patrol car. Police said he then began to hit his head against the plexiglass cage in the cruiser, causing a gash to his forehead.

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Lynch was taken to UPMC Altoona for further evaluation before ultimately being placed in Blair County Prison with his bail set at $40,000.

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