Wandering Toddler Leads to Neglect & Endangering Charges‏

Police believe the uncle and granddad were smoking marijuana as the child slipped away unnoticed.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - Salem Police say a two-year old child that was found wandering in a southeast Salem neighborhood led to the citing of the uncle and the grandfather of the child on neglect and endangering charges.

Lt. Dave Okada with Salem Police says a citizen located the female child at about 9:00 p.m. on July 1st barefooted and wandering on 24rd St SE near Adams Street SE.

"When officers arrived on the scene they were able to determine that the child came from the residence at 990 24th Street SE," Okada said.

"Further investigation revealed that the child had been dropped off at the residence by her mother earlier in the evening so the child's uncle and grandfather could watch the child. When officers entered the residence to further investigate how the child slipped away they were able to smell both fresh and burnt Marijuana, indicating that the Marijuana had likely been smoked while the child was present and possibly contributed to the child being able to slip away unnoticed."

Okada says officers subsequently seized a small amount of Marijuana and associated paraphernalia.

The Department of Human Services was contacted and responded to the scene to assist in the investigation and subsequently released the child to her mother.

19-year old Salem resident Steven Tyler Pearson, the uncle of the child, is being cited for Recklessly Endangering and second-degree Criminal Mistreatment.

38-year old Salem resident Terry Daugherty, grandfather of the child, is also being cited for Recklessly Endangering and second-degree Criminal Mistreatment.