'They're not getting my kid'

Worry about having children taken away propels exodus
Mediha Fejzagic DiMartino, Staff Writer
Article Created: 03/17/2008 10:49:27 PM PDT

Tent City Media

As the warm sunshine bathes Tent City, a young couple hustles to get out of this place they have called home for the past six months.

With their feet sliding on the gravel, they carry a stroller across the train tracks, hoping no one is following them. A blond, curly-haired toddler giggles and eats a cookie, oblivious to the panic of his parents.

"Look at this," the man says, glancing over his shoulder. "There are all cops over there."

"They can block us all they want," he says, sighing as they manage to get across the tracks.

"But they're not getting my kid," the woman says, finishing his sentence.

Judi Tibbetts, Darrher job and the family ran out of money for a motel.
Ontario's new "no dogs, no outsiders, no children" policy for the encampment forced the family into hiding early Monday morning.

The night before, Tibbetts sent her 13-year-old son, Dillon Wilson, to his grandfather's house until things settled down.

She and her 17-month-old son, Adam Romero, were picked up by a church volunteer a few blocks away to avoid an encounter with Child Protective Services.

After saying goodbye to them, Darrel Romero returned to Tent City, afraid his tent would be confiscated if he's away too long.

"I don't like being here but I have no where to go," said Tibbetts, who works three days a week at the Mervyn's in Chino.

Darrel Romero and their two children moved to Tent City in October after she lost her job and the family ran out of money for a motel.

Ontario's new "no dogs, no outsiders, no children" policy for the encampment forced the family into hiding early Monday morning.

The night before, Tibbetts sent her 13-year-old son, Dillon Wilson, to his grandfather's house until things settled down.

She and her 17-month-old son, Adam Romero, were picked up by a church volunteer a few blocks away to avoid an encounter with Child Protective Services.

After saying goodbye to them, Darrel Romero returned to Tent City, afraid his tent would be confiscated if he's away too long.

"I don't like being here but I have no where to go," said Tibbetts, who works three days a week at the Mervyn's in Chino.

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