Pay Up, Or Else!

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By By Michelle Esteban

Summary

Local police are hitting the streets to round up and arrest deadbeat moms and dads who haven't paid child support.

Story Published: Jun 7, 2002 at 5:46 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 12:42 AM PDT

Pay Up, Or Else!
PIERCE COUNTY - Time's up for more than 300 deadbeat parents. Sheriff's Deputies warned them to pay their child support or else there would be a warrant out for their arrest.

"My name is Micah Lundborg and this is my partner Cory Shears," said Deputy Micah Lundborg as he and his partner head to a house in Puyallup. Together they make up the Warrant Unit for the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.

Typically, they tackle a variety pack of 40 warrants a day. But this isn't a typical day. "Today were just part of the Fugitive Task Force we're rounding up deadbeat dads, actually it's not just dads, it's dead beat parents, we've got mothers involved as well," said Deputy Micah Lundborg.

"I love my kids and they love me," says William Schoenbachler. But when deputies came knocking, Schoenbachler ran. He has four kids and owes back child support on all of them.

"I'm very behind. I plan to pay. I can't get a driver's license and I can't get a job cause I'm worried about the cops getting me," said Schoenbachler.

The officers got him, and now they're looking for 33-year-old Daniel Hill, aka deadbeat dad. "We've never arrested him, cause we've never caught him," said Deputy Micah Lundburg. He's a runner. "He's five foot five and he looks like the last guy," Lungborg told a group of Sheriff's deputies and detectives. Micah and Cory have tried twice to arrest Hill, this time they've got reinforcements from the Task Force.

Within seconds they find a man hiding along the side of the house. They take no chances. "Get your ass over here right now," says an unidentified deputy with her gun drawn. The man sheepishly retreats out of the bushes and puts his hands behind his head. "Turn around what's your name," says Lundborg as he cuffs the man. Turns out he's the wrong guy, he's Hill's roommate. Although he's not in trouble, he starts weeping uncontrollable. Deputy Lundborg has to calm him down and keep looking for 33-year-old Daniel Hill. "Relax it's fine" reassured Deputy Lundborg.

Hill is behind on his son's child support. His brother says Hill hasn't paid in about 10 years.

Although Hill is nowhere to be found deputies discover something else. They find a house full of garbage, animal feces and Hill's 7-year-old nephew living inside.

"It's like a barn inside that house....they got animals in the house, birds flying around the house, dogs and cats everywhere." It's so bad deputies will report conditions to Child Protective Services.

Half the day down, two arrest warrants attempted, one arrest made and 38 warrants to go. Prosecutors say it's not too late for deadbeat parents to turn themselves in. The more than 300 deadbeats owes more than $250,000 in child support.