Houston police say four elderly men have been found in a home where they were being held captive in "deplorable" conditions.

Police Sgt. Steven Murdock says a neighbor called authorities Friday morning expressing concern about men in the house in North Houston. Officers who responded found three men locked in a garage and a fourth in the home.

Murdock says the men were homeless and may have been held so that a captor could cash checks the men were receiving. At least one of the men is a military veteran. It's unclear whether the men were targeted for their Social Security payments or some other kind.

He says the men were malnourished and "almost invalids." Three were taken to a hospital for treatment.

One person is in custody.