Local

Ocala woman whom deputies sought surrenders her 6 children

OCALA, Fla. — The Marion County Sheriff's Office said Monday that it was searching for an Ocala woman and four of her six children, whom they feared were endangered.

Curleasha Harris left her Northeast 4th Court apartment after the Florida Department of Children and Families issued an order to take custody of her children, Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Lauren Lettelier said.

Investigators said Harris took off with her six children, but she dropped off two of them at a relative's home Sunday. They said the two children had been placed in their father's custody and she took them without permission.

"Harris met with deputies and turned her four children over to the Department of Children and Families to fulfill the child custody pickup orders," Lettelier said. "The children are in good health."

Harris was arrested and will be charged with two counts of interfering with child custody.

Deputies said DCF sought custody of Harris' children because she had used drugs around them.

Residents told Channel 9 they saw Harris stop by her apartment Monday to pick up clothing.