Scott Telles said.
Millard told police that Kizer had hit her several times on the back of the head and she required medical attention, so she was taken to the hospital emergency room.
Kizer went to jail on suspicion of spousal abuse and child endangerment, and Child Protective Services staff took the couple's three small children into custody.
Police plan to file a report with the district attorney recommending Millard also be charged with child endangerment.
Earlier Thanksgiving Day before police were called, Telles said, the couple's 5-year-old daughter called friends of the family to report that her parents were sleeping on a mattress in the middle of the living room.
The little girl said she, her 4-year-old sister and her 19-month-old brother had not eaten yet, Telles said.
The friends picked up the two older children, took them to safety and returned to the home to tell Kizer and Millard that their behavior was unacceptable, Telles said.
'They began fighting, and that's when we were called,' Telles said.
Police and Child Protective Services were keeping their eyes on the household before Thursday's arrest, Telles said.
'(Kizer and Millard) were given fair warning this might happen,' Telles said. Someone called police a few months ago to report the living conditions at their house were unacceptable, he said. Police responded, took a report, and got CPS involved, he said.
When CPS staff visited the house, they also told the parents to clean up the house, Telles said.
'There was the mattress on the floor, clothes all over the floor, food drying on the kitchen countertops, the dishes weren't done,' Telles said. '(Kizer and Millard) both admitted they are alcoholics.'
The incident on Thanksgiving was the last straw, Telles said, and taking the children away was the last resort in trying to get the couple to clean up their act.
'It's a difficult decision as a law enforcement officer to make,' said Telles, who has two daughters. 'But our primary interest is the kids' safety. It's the parents who have the problem, but the kids need to be safe.'
Domestic violence and neglect often increases around the holidays, Telles said.
'This is a time to celebrate, but for the families who don't have the means or the money to do that, they get depressed and will typically turn to drug or alcohol abuse, which then goes into these child endangerment issues.'
Kizer, Millard and others with substance abuse problems have to want to change, he said, and losing their kids may inspire that change.
'I hope this unfortunate experience causes these parents to change their ways and do what's best for the kids,' Telles said.
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To contact Staff Writer Robyn Moormeister, e-mail robynmthe union.com or call 477-4236.
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