An 18-year-old man was taken into custody on Monday following an incident where a 14-year-old boy, who was under his care, was discovered wandering barefoot and in diapers along a bustling street in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
Miami-Dade police received a report of child neglect when a concerned passerby noticed a child crossing a busy street. The authorities have not disclosed the exact location where the boy was found.
Police officers arrived at the scene around 2:30 p.m. and promptly initiated their search for the boy’s residence and the person responsible for his care, according to authorities.
After several hours of searching, police officers diligently combed through the area, reaching out to nearby residents and businesses. Their efforts paid off when they successfully reunited the boy with his family, as reported.
The police investigation found that the victim’s mother had entrusted the care of her child to Maike Mendoza, who was acquainted with the family.
Authorities have reported that instead of supervising the child, Mendoza decided to leave the home, leaving the boy alone for a significant amount of time.
The teenager strayed from the house and ventured into the neighborhood, unwittingly putting himself in a perilous situation on a busy main road while still wearing diapers, according to the authorities.
The arrest report of Mendoza did not provide any information regarding the victim’s medical condition or the duration of his wandering.
The authorities found Mendoza and took him to the MDPD’s Northside District Station at around 8:29 p.m. to interrogate him.
Mendoza, after receiving his Miranda rights, provided a statement to the police, which was later redacted in his arrest report.
Mendoza has been charged with child neglect, with no great bodily harm, according to jail records.
Authorities have not disclosed any additional information about the case or potential legal actions against the victim’s parents.