SANTA ROSA BEACH — A Target shopper is facing accusations of child neglect after her 5-year-old was found wandering a street 17 miles away, according to investigators in the Florida Panhandle.
The boy was rescued by a good Samaritan, who reported finding him on North Gulf Drive in Santa Rosa Beach, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
“When deputies arrived, they met with the caller who found the child unsupervised but believed he lived nearby with his mother. Deputies located the child’s residence and discovered the mother had left the home, leaving the child unattended,” the sheriff’s office said.
“Deputies later spoke with the (mother), who advised she was returning from Target in Panama City Beach. She admitted to leaving her son alone, assuming a neighbor would watch over him. Further investigation revealed that no arrangements had been made with any neighbors to care for the child.”
She returned to the home around 9:40 p.m. after being gone four hours, officials said.
The Target in Panama City Beach is about a 17-mile drive southeast of North Gulf Drive, maps show.
“Deputies contacted the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), which advised the child could temporarily stay with a neighbor until the grandparents could arrive from Tennessee to take custody,” the sheriff’s office said.
The boy’s mother, who is 37, was arrested and charged with child neglect, officials said.
“This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety and supervision of our children,” Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson said in the news release.
“We are grateful for the concerned citizen who acted quickly to ensure this child’s well-being.”
Santa Rosa Beach is about a 65-mile drive east from Pensacola.
By MARK PRICE/Charlotte Observer
Mark Price is a National Reporter for McClatchy News. He joined the network of newspapers in 1991 at The Charlotte Observer, covering beats including schools, crime, immigration, LGBTQ issues, homelessness and nonprofits. He graduated from the University of Memphis with majors in journalism and art history, and a minor in geology.
