Baldwin Police have charged a woman with reckless conduct after her 4-year-old son was found wandering a city street by himself.
BALDWIN POLICE DEPT. NEWS RELEASE:
“On Wednesday at approximately 3:50 P.M., Habersham County E-911 received multiple reports of a young child walking alone on Willingham Avenue without adult supervision. Two adults intervened and stayed with the 4-year-old boy at a nearby business until help arrived.
Officers from the Baldwin Police Department responded to the scene and immediately began efforts to locate the child’s guardian. The child told officers that his mother had left him at home to go shopping and that he was attempting to find her. He was unable to provide his parents’ full names or describe his home, prompting officers to request assistance from the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS).
Approximately 30–45 minutes later, the child’s mother, Miranda Perry, arrived on scene searching for him. Perry informed officers that the child had left their apartment at the Heritage Garden complex. She stated that she had left him at home while she picked up her other children from the bus stop and visited a local clothing store. She also reported that the child’s father, who works night shifts, was asleep at the time and unaware the child was in the apartment.
Following the investigation, Perry was arrested and charged with Reckless Conduct. DFCS assumed responsibility for the child’s welfare and the ongoing inquiry.
This incident serves as an important reminder that child proofing measures such as doorknob covers and latches are not foolproof. Parents and caregivers should not rely solely on these devices to ensure a child’s safety. Additionally, if a child is left in the care of someone who is asleep, it is essential that the caregiver is aware and able to supervise.
This marks the second recent incident in which a child was found on a busy roadway after being left with a sleeping caregiver. Fortunately, no injuries occurred in either case.”