AURORA, Ind. - A Tri-State father says he knew his 3-year-old son was in danger living with the boy's mother, but he felt helpless to do anything about it.
Chris Popp said he knew the boy's mom was cooking meth with her boyfriend, but she threatened to take him away for good if he told police.
"There was some red flags," Popp told WCPO Wednesday. "I mentioned that I was pretty about upset about it, you know, bringing the stuff around my son and harming him. And she threatened to take him away from me, never let me see him again."
But Popp is overjoyed now and reunited with his son. He went on a shopping spree Wednesday, buying a new bed and Christmas gifts for his son.
"I want my boy in my life. It's just, I love that little kid. He's just, he's everything," Popp said.
Father and son were reunited after mother and boyfriend were busted. Police say they arrested Tiffany Reed-Wagner and Noah Oxley as they were making meth in the Aurora apartment where the 3-year-old was living with them.
Popp said he was alerted soon after the raid.
"His aunt came and woke me up. We rushed over to the hospital. Our main concern was my son. But he was OK," Popp said.
Popp now has full custody and has the boy under his roof. He was in Dearborn County Court late Wednesday afternoon going over the details of the arrangement.
"I could not be without that kid. My son is why I'm doing everything that I am today," he said.
Popp hopes his experience will be a wake-up call to other dad and moms to speak up when something doesn't seem right.
"Don't turn an eye. I mean, if you see a kid in need, just help him because you never know what's going to happen. Something like this will happen," he said.