A Florida woman was charged with child neglect after her 5-year-old son was discovered alone in a park, and witnesses claimed she fled the scene.
Alize Angel Rodriguez, 20, was arrested hours after witnesses told police that her young son had been walking around a park in Miami Beach alone for about 20 minutes, according to an arrest report obtained by WPLG, a local ABC affiliate.
According to the report, the boy told police that his mother would abandon him in the park as a punishment for his bad behavior.
According to the arrest report, several witnesses saw either the boy or Rodriguez, including witnesses who saw the mother leave the park and enter a gray Toyota with a man, but not her son.
When officers arrived and questioned the boy, he reportedly stated that he didn’t know where his mother was, but that she leaves him in the park when he isn’t behaving properly.
Witnesses who saw Rodriguez at the scene stated that she appeared to be under the influence before leaving the park.
Someone else noticed her walking down Meridian Avenue, where the park is located, and saw her throw her purse into a bush. According to police, the bag contained marijuana and several pills, including Xanax.
Police eventually caught up with Rodriguez, who denied being under the influence.
They arrested her the same day and charged her with felony child neglect without great bodily harm and possession of a controlled substance.
She was charged with a misdemeanor for possessing fewer than 20 grams of cannabis.
The boy was placed in the care of his maternal grandmother. Rodriguez remains in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $3,000 bond. Her next court appearance has not been scheduled.