Parma toddler found wandering alone in the rain identified; mother taken into custody

PARMA, Ohio - Parma police have identified a 3-year-old found wandering alone in the rain Tuesday morning in Parma.

Around 6:45 a.m., a concerned resident responded to the Parma police station with the toddler who said she found him walking alone in the area of W. 44th Street and Grantwood Drive, according to police.

They said the child was wet and appeared to have been outside in the rain for a period of time.

By 10 a.m., police said they had received a call from a resident who directed authorities to the child's home, where his mother was sleeping and didn't know he had left the house.

Police said the 24-year-old mother has a Parma warrant for failure to appear on a seat belt violation. She was taken into custody and the boy has been turned over to other family members.

NewsChannel5 also learned that the mother has been charged with child endangering.

Parma Police are grateful for the 63 year old who drove the child to the police station. But advise people to call police or have someone call police from where a lost or wandering child is found.

Parma police detective Marty Compton said that allows police to immediately start knocking on doors in the area and begin backtracking where the child lives.