Mother arrested after toddler found wandering along Ga. highway
MADISON COUNTY, Ga. - A woman was arrested after police said her two-year-old child was found wandering in the middle of Georgia Highway 106, according to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
The child’s mother, identified by police as Danielle A. Simms, 19, was arrested on a charge of reckless conduct.
Authorities said a man spotted the child—who was wearing only a diaper and had dried food on his face—on his way to work on Friday. The man removed the child from the roadway and reported the incident to deputies. While the man waited for help to arrive, he reportedly gave the child water and some crackers, and attempted to locate the child’s mother but could not find her.
About an hour later, authorities said they were able to locate Simms, who told police she was asleep and that it was the child’s fault for leaving the house.
“She didn't seem concerned about her kid walking down the highway and she tried to say it was the kid's fault,” Deputy Shawn Burns said.
Officers reportedly warned Simms about letting the child play unsupervised and she replied “there is nothing for him to do here.”
This isn’t the first time officers said they have had to rescue the child from a dangerous situation.
On May 17, the same child was reportedly found wandering in the rain near the highway on Adams Clarke Road. At that time, the incident was reported to the Department of Family and Children's Services, but the details of that case are unknown. However, deputies say DFACS conducted an investigation into the conditions of the child’s home.
Simms was released from jail on Sunday with a $1,200 bond.