A 32-year-old Florida man is facing a child neglect charge after police say he left his 6-year-old stepson outside an apartment complex without confirming that an adult was there to care for him.
Ricindy Seaphin was arrested Tuesday evening by the North Miami Police Department after officers were called to an apartment complex near Memorial Highway following a report that a young child had been left without adult supervision, according to police information reported by WPLG Local 10.
Investigators said Seaphin had picked the boy up from school and was responsible for his care at the time. The child’s mother had previously told him that she would not be home when he brought the boy to the apartment complex, according to the police report.
Police allege that Seaphin nevertheless left the child outside the complex instead of walking him to the apartment and making sure a responsible adult was present.
The boy went to the apartment but found no one there. He then made his way to a nearby Family Dollar at 280 NE 135th Street, where police said he approached people and asked for help and for someone to call the police.
A witness eventually found the child and helped him back toward the apartment. After checking and finding that no one was inside, the witness stayed with the boy, gave him food and care, and contacted law enforcement, according to the police account.
Police say child was alone for about 55 minutes
Investigators determined that Seaphin dropped the boy off at approximately 3:20 p.m. The witness found him around 4:15 p.m., leaving the child without adult supervision for roughly 55 minutes, according to the arrest report.
Police said Seaphin later returned to the apartment complex and agreed to speak with investigators after being advised of his Miranda rights.
According to the report, Seaphin told officers he was “in a rush” when he left the boy. He also acknowledged that he normally walks the child to the apartment door and makes sure he is turned over to his mother, but did not do so on this occasion.
Seaphin faces child neglect charge
Following the interview, officers arrested Seaphin and took him to the North Miami Police Department for processing before transporting him to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
He was charged with one count of child neglect without great bodily harm, according to police and jail records reported in the case.
The case remains an allegation, and the charge against Seaphin has not been established as a conviction.
The incident began after the boy sought help from strangers at the Family Dollar, where his attempt to get someone to contact police brought attention to the situation.
As of the latest available reporting, Seaphin had been released after posting $2,500 bond, according to records cited in the case.
