The parents of a 3-year-old child found walking alone Tuesday morning have been charged with child neglect, a misdemeanor, according to the Columbus Police Department.
The child’s parents, Tyler Williams and Elett Lowery, were both arrested Tuesday afternoon, CPD investigator Chris Ware said.
Ware said the child had gotten out of the house while his mother was asleep and his father was at work.
“He just went out the door,” Ware said.
Two people found the child at about 9:45 walking along the railroad tracks near College Street and 22nd Street South and flagged down a CPD officer, Ware said. The child was uninjured.
The child’s parents were located about two hours later, according to a CPD press release sent out shortly before noon Tuesday.
Child Protective Services has the child now and are assessing the home to determine whether to give him back to his parents, Ware said.
Ware said the child was unable to tell police his address, or any other information that would have helped identify him.
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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