Two East Prairie residents arrested

EAST PRAIRIE - An investigation into the welfare of a child led to the arrest of two persons.

Mississippi County Sheriff's Deputy Marc Tragesser was dispatched Wednesday to assist the Division of Family Services with a child abuse/neglect investigation on Mitchell Street, in East Prairie.

Tragesser knocked repeatedly on the front and back doors, but apparently because one of the occupants had several warrants, those inside refused to open the door, according to Mississippi County Sheriff Keith Moore. Tragesser contacted Deputies Mike Tarver and David Watkins to assist him in searching the residence.

"Due to the nature of the call, the deputies and DFS caseworker were concerned for the safety and well being of the children inside, so the deputies decided to enter the residence through an unlocked door," Moore said in a news release.

The deputies asked the tenant, Madilyn Archie, whether Rick Rendon was present. While Archie stated he was not, a child living in the residence told the deputies Rendon was in the bedroom.