Miami Boy Found Wandering Streets, Mom Charged
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Miami Police arrested a woman who admitted to leaving her child home alone in the middle of the night. Rosa Gomez, 33, was arrested and charged with child neglect after her six-year-old son, Carlos, was found wandering the streets of Little Havana.
Detectives said the boy was found alone, in his pajamas, with only a backpack full of toys.
Police said Carlos woke up in the middle of the night and his mother was not there.
According to the arrest report, the front door of his house was locked, so Carlos used a wooden duck to break a window and climb out of the apartment. Police said he wandered five blocks away from the family home and was found around 3:40 a.m. at SW 14th Avenue and 1st Street.
"I almost got lost and I was running over here and I said help and nobody sees me," Carlos said.
"He did tell officers that he was basically alone and afraid," said Det. Willie Moreno with the City of Miami Police Department.
"I was almost going to the house of my sister," Carlos said. "Then I went over there and he saw me and I was standing up."
A woman, who did not want to be identified by CBS4, said she was called the police for help when she saw Carlos.
"We just saw him waving help and we pulled over and called the cops," the woman said. "He was looking for his mom. Apparently, he was alone."
At the boy's request, officers brought Carlos a McDonald's Happy Meal. Judging from the boy's face, the included toy was his favorite part.
Although police said the boy sustained a slight laceration to his hand from climbing through a broken window, Carlos is otherwise unharmed. The boy is in the custody of a family friend.
Police said Carlos' mom had been out with a friend since 12:30 a.m. They found her by calling her cell phone.
The mother now faces charges of child neglect.
According to the police report, the mother felt her son would be ok since he was sleeping and usually slept all night. She told police she lost track of time while out with her friend. She returned to her apartment after police called her.
Florida's Department of Child and Families said they do not have a history with the family.
"That has never happened before," said neighbor Rolando Rodriguez. "She is a good mother. I never knew of any men visiting her. I feel very bad because that kid was very well educated."
