A welfare check on a quiet stretch of Modder Avenue turned into a disturbing scene when Shelby County deputies found a woman and a young child injured inside a Memphis home, authorities said. The man they say is responsible, identified as Kennice Brock, is being held at the Shelby County Jail and is set to appear in court on Feb. 23.
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office has charged Brock with especially aggravated kidnapping, employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, aggravated assault, child abuse, child neglect or endangerment, domestic assault, and evading arrest, according to WREG. Deputies say Brock tried to bolt on foot before he was taken into custody, and investigators report they later pulled a Draco AK-style pistol from an unusual hiding spot inside a washing machine at the residence. According to the report, Brock is being held on a $400,000 bond.
What Deputies Say They Found Inside
When deputies went to the home for the wellness check, they found the woman with bruises and bite marks and the child with bruises and scratches, officials said. The child, described by authorities as under the age of two, was taken to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis for treatment. Le Bonheur's main campus is located at 848 Adams Avenue.
According to WREG, the woman told investigators that she and her son had been held against their will since Jan. 20. Deputies say Brock ran from the scene on foot when they arrived, but officers arrested him in the Modder Avenue area after following up on the welfare check and taking him into custody.
Violence On A Short Block
The 300 block of Modder Avenue has seen serious trouble before. In 2014, a shooting on the block drew a heavy police response, as reported by ActionNews5. That earlier case has become one of several examples residents point to when talking about ongoing public-safety concerns on the street.
Brock remains booked at the Shelby County Jail. Anyone seeking details on his charges or bond can contact the jail information or the sheriff's public information office, according to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office. The case is scheduled to begin moving through Shelby County courts with the Feb. 23 hearing.
