SUMMERDALE — Three Summerdale children have been removed their mother’s custody after police discovered the squalid living conditions of their home.

According to Summerdale Police Sgt. Hugh Bohannon, on Thursday police learned of the alleged situation in which 41-year-old Charlotte Green and her three children, ages 8, 9 and 13, were living.

“We received a tip about possibly poor living conditions on Harden Lane in Summerdale,” he said in a phone interview.

An investigation confirmed the poor conditions.

“We went out there and did a welfare check,” Bohannnon said. “As soon as the mother opened the door, we could smell human feces and other waste.”

The sergeant said officers found the trailer in question to be infested with roaches, ants and fleas, and covered with waste. In addition, the dwelling had no running water and limited electricity, but police found cigarettes in the house.

“It was horrific,” Bohannon said.

He said Green told police that she and children had lived in the trailer for a year and that she cited her emotional health as reason for the state of the living conditions.

“She claims she had suffered from depression for the past six years,” the sergeant said, “and that she had gotten out of the habit of cleaning and doesn’t know how to clean.”

Bohannon added that Green said she lives on public financial assistance.

Upon further investigation, police learned that Green’s sister had once lived in the trailer, but moved into a nearby mobile home in 2011 after having a heart attack.

“It’s (the nearby trailer) about 20 feet away,” Bohannon said.

Upon seeing the conditions of Green’s mobile home, police arrested her and charged her with misdemeanor child neglect. According to Bohannon, this enabled them to quickly remove the children to a safer location. He explained that the children are now in the custody of their adult brother, Marvin Green of Summerdale.

“He’s an upstanding young man,” Bohannon said, adding that Marvin Green is a member of the Summerdale Volunteer Fire Department.

The sergeant explained that Thursday’s events proceeded quickly.

“We went out there about 3:20 p.m.,” Bohannon said. “Green was arrested about 3:45 p.m.”

He explained that police made sure the children were not exposed to the proceedings by having their aunt meet them when they got off the school bus and take them to her home.

“We do everything we can not to arrest a parent in front of a child,” Bohannon said.

However, police did take note of the children’s condition.

“They were very dirty and their clothes were not in the best shape,” Bohannon said, adding that some insect bites were also found on the children’s skin.

Marvin Green filed for emergency custody of the children, and Charlotte Green is currently prohibited from seeing them. However, Bohannon said she posted her own bail from the Foley Jail with $300 in cash that she had in her purse.

“She literally got out of jail before I had the paperwork done,” he said.

Green’s court date for misdemeanor child neglect is Oct. 15. In addition, Bohannon said investigation is still ongoing and more charges could follow.