Date: July 31, 2026 
Case #: 2026-00041658 
Incident: ODHS employee cited for leaving child in vehicle 
Date / Time of Incident: July 28, 2026 / 3:30 p.m.    
Location:  ODHS offices, SW Emkay Drive, Bend   
Arrested: Kenneth Michael Anderson, 56-year-old Bend resident 
Offense: Child Neglect II

At approximately 1:37 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, Bend Police received a report that an Oregon Department of Human Services family time coordinator left a child in a vehicle on Tuesday, July 28. 

An investigation found that ODHS employee Kenneth Michael Anderson coordinated a family visit with an 8-month-old baby and her family in Redmond on July 28. When the visit ended at approximately 2:30 p.m., Anderson drove the baby from the Redmond child welfare office to the Bend child welfare office on SW Emkay Avenue. The baby fell asleep during the drive, and Anderson parked the van and walked into the office, forgetting the baby in the vehicle. Anderson then left the office in a different vehicle to go to another location. 

Within approximately 30 minutes, Anderson realized he had forgotten the baby in the van and contacted his supervisor, who found the baby in the unlocked vehicle, provided care to the child, and took her to St. Charles Bend for evaluation. The baby was released without injury and returned to her resource parents. 

Bend Police detectives arrested Anderson on suspicion of second-degree child neglect on Thursday, July 30.

This is an unfortunate reminder to never leave a child unattended in a vehicle for any length of time. Make sure to check your entire vehicle, but especially the backseat, before walking away. You might also consider putting a purse, backpack, or other personal item in your backseat as a reminder to look there before you lock the car and walk away. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s body temperature. In 2025, 31 children died of heatstroke after being left in hot vehicles.