SOUTH POINT - The call for help was a common one to law enforcement officers: an intoxicated person was allegedly endangering the life of his child - but this call had an unusual twist - the person calling for help was the child in danger.

An 8-year-old South Point child was removed from the custody of her parents Sunday after she called the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office and said she feared for her safety because her father was allegedly too drunk to care for her.

Michael Gallion, 46, of 419 County Road 1, Lot 1A, South Point, was charged with endangering children and taken to the Lawrence County Jail.

According to a sheriff's office report, deputy Wes Collins was called to a residence on County Road 1 just before 11 p.m. Sunday "in response to a call from a juvenile requesting help due to an intoxicated person."

According to the report, the child told Collins her father was, "intoxicated and she was scared and wanted to leave."

Collins determined the child was in the care of her father and a girlfriend, both of whom were allegedly intoxicated at that time.

Collins stated in his report, "while on scene in front of the child he (Gallion) made remarks that would be considered mentally abusive" and that the father "stated in front of the child he did not want her, her mom was a crack head, was no good and he did not want her." The deputy noted that the father's tone toward the child was "loud and menacing."

Childrens' Service was contacted and a representative of that agency removed the child from the residence. According to the report, Gallion allegedly told a Childrens' Services worker he wanted to "put (the child) up for adoption.

Gallion was arraigned Monday in Lawrence County Municipal Court. Judge Donald Capper set a June 17 preliminary hearing in the matter.