BALDWIN, Ga. — A Baldwin mother was arrested Wednesday after her four-year-old son was found wandering alone on a busy street.
At approximately 3:50 p.m. on Jan. 14, Habersham County E-911 received multiple reports of a young child walking without adult supervision on Willingham Avenue, according to police. Two bystanders intervened, staying with the boy at a nearby business until officers from the Baldwin Police Department arrived.
The child informed officers he had left his home at the Heritage Garden complex to find his mother, who he said had gone shopping. Because the child could not provide his parents’ full names or identify his residence, the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) was called to the scene.
According to Baldwin Police Chief Chris Jones, “the child was not properly dressed.” The temperatures on Wednesday were in the 40s.
The mother, identified as Miranda Perry, arrived 30 to 45 minutes later. According to police, Perry stated she had left the child at home to pick up her other children from a bus stop and visit a local clothing store. She told investigators that the child’s father was asleep at the residence following a night shift and was unaware the boy was in the apartment.
Following an investigation, Perry was arrested and charged with reckless conduct. DFCS has assumed responsibility for the child’s welfare and is conducting an inquiry.
The Baldwin Police Department noted that this is the second recent incident involving a child found on a major roadway while left with a sleeping caregiver. Officials are reminding parents that safety devices, such as doorknob covers, are not foolproof and that caregivers must be awake and aware to provide adequate supervision.
