A 20-year-old Florida woman, Alize Angel Rodriguez, has been arrested and charged with child neglect after her 5-year-old son was discovered alone in a Miami Beach park. Witnesses reported seeing Rodriguez leave the park without her son, who was left wandering alone for approximately 20 minutes.
According to the police report, the young boy informed officers that his mother would leave him in the park as a form of punishment when he misbehaved. Several witnesses reported seeing Rodriguez at the park and later leaving in a gray Toyota with an unidentified man, leaving her son behind.
Upon arrival at the scene, police officers questioned the boy who confirmed that he did not know his mother’s whereabouts. He reiterated that his mother would abandon him in the park as a disciplinary measure when he was not behaving.
Witnesses at the scene reported that Rodriguez appeared to be under the influence of a substance before she left the park. Another witness reported seeing her on Meridian Avenue, where the park is located, discarding her purse into a bush. Upon inspection, police found marijuana and several pills, including Xanax, inside the bag.
Rodriguez was later apprehended by the police, where she denied being under the influence. She was taken into custody and charged with felony child neglect without great bodily harm and possession of a controlled substance. Additionally, she was charged with a misdemeanor for possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis.
The 5-year-old boy has since been placed in the custody of his maternal grandmother. Rodriguez is currently being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $3,000 bond. Her next court appearance has yet to be scheduled.