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March 16, 2007

3-year-old found wandering street at night

Neglect charges likely to be filed against yet-to-be named foster parents

By D. E. Smoot



Charges likely will be filed against the foster parents of a 3-year-old child who was found wandering on Honor Heights Drive in the middle of the night, a Muskogee County prosecutor said.

The child, police said, was found by a motorist at about 2:50 a.m. Wednesday. The motorist, Teresa Hughes, said she initially thought the toddler was an animal.

“He was coming right at me,” Hughes said. “As I got closer, I said, ‘Oh, my God, it’s a little kid.’”

Hughes said the barefooted child was dressed in jeans and a shirt. Hughes, who stayed with the child until police located his home, said he was about 1 1/2 blocks away from home.

The foster parents’ identities have yet to be released.

Muskogee Police Sgt. A.J. Rudd said it appeared the child woke up in the middle of the night and left the house. Rudd said he has seen similar situations in the past.

“I know it sounds crazy, but I’ve seen it happen,” Rudd said. “Some kids are just more ornery than others.”

Assistant District Attorney Nikki Baker Dotson, however, said allowing a 3-year-old to wander the streets at night — even unintentionally — is not acceptable.

“The district attorney’s office likes to support foster parents and those who step up to help with children who have to be taken out of a bad situation,” Dotson said. “But you have to hold them to the same standard as everybody else.”

Dotson said foster parents are required to complete a regimen of training before children are placed in their care. She said there are measures that can be taken to avoid such situations.

Charges of child neglect, Dotson said, likely will be filed by next week.

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