Discovered a naked lost child this morning.

[Rams]

My son and I discovered a naked lost child this morning, my son was getting into his car to go to work, one of our dogs had walked out to the car with him, I was standing in the garage ensuring the dog didn't try to follow my son. The dog was acting differently than normal, he always keeps his full attention on my son. But this time he was standing ridged, ears perked up and looking down the street. I wasn't sure what he was looking at and from my point of view couldn't see anything. I asked my son what Rudy was looking at. He turned and said there's a butt naked little girl pushing a baby stroller down the street. I came out of the garage and sure enough, that's exactly what was going on.

We both looked around for a parent or baby sitter, none to be seen. So, I walked down the street and tried to talk to her. She wasn't scared of me but being only about two years old, didn't say much except things like "my stroller" and "home". I honestly didn't know who she was, who she belonged to or where she was from. So, I asked my son for his tee shirt, he put it on her and we started knocking on doors. After about a dozen doors, I'm seriously considering calling the police, I don't know this little girl and I'm not feeling comfortable walking around the neighborhood with her.

Regardless, we eventually found a very tramatized mother running around the neighborhood looking for her baby. The child is the granddaughter of one of my neighbors. The mother said, I was changing her diaper and all of a sudden she was gone. I don't know this young lady and I know how kids can and do get a way from you but, I think there is more to the story. All of the properties in our neighborhood are at a minimum of 1/2 acre lots so, there are at most four homes to a block. This little girl was quite a ways from her granny's home, she didn't get there in one or two minutes pushing her baby doll stroller, taking baby steps and in no particular hurry, The child just out for a stroll. My thoughts are that Mom sure takes a long time to change a diaper. But, in all fairness, I don't know her side of the story. One side note to this story is Granny is one of the homes in this neighborhood that has a backyard pool. Think about it.

I didn't call the law, the child was reunited with the mother and all seems to be well now but, for God's Sake, watch your kids!!! I assure you, I will be observing, watching.
The next time, it might not be my son or I that finds your little girl.

blackrams

[alph]

wow,  that's scary!  saddly you don't know the whole story, neither do we, but it sounds to me like someone wasn't payiing attention to that child.  everyone say's they turned away for a few seconds, how could that kid have gone sooo far in a few seconds!!  i would have hated to see anything happen to the kid, calling social services would have taken that kid a way and there'd be an investigation......  who knows, maybe something else is going on at that house??? 

i'm glad that kid has you in the neighbor hood.

[JimL]

Something is definitely wrong here.  I would like to think that this was an isolated incident....but quite frankly I suspect it is not.

[Jabba]

To be the Devils Advocate here...

The kid slipped away in a few seconds... and Mom spent the next several minutes looking for her INSIDE the house.  Who would THINK she could get OUT?  Maybe this WAS the 1st time.

My son has scared the HELL out of me a few times, walking out of places he's not supposed to.

Usually when he's in the garage with me... and he sneaks INTO the house without saying anything to me.  He get's his ass tanned for leaving somewhere without TELLING his chaperone that he's going.

Jabba

[Daniel Meyer]

Heh...I "got away" several times at that age...easier at grandma's house (though I don't remember "planning"
anything)...it's just that grandma's house isn't quite childproof...that takes some time and apparently I kept inventing new ways that they then had to plug.

I wasn't much older when I escaped on my big-wheel...we lived in a VERY hilly neighborhood and I was able to coast nearly a mile in a very short time...and of course, the parents were searching the house first...

My dad was PISSED...and I couldn't understand what I'd done wrong...

I still escape on my big wheel all the time...often the wife has no idea where too...and my big wheel is MUCH bigger and faster these days and has no need to coast...

[Daniel Meyer]

Oh...and kudo's for doing something. Most folks today would just drive on by or go back in the house....

[f6john]

       All's well that ends well,..... sometimes. You did the "right thing" but I can see where this could have went south on you real quick. One tactic that people use to divert attention away from themselves is to point the finger.  What are you ( unknown male ) doing with my naked baby??? Wow, how that could ruin your day!  But thankfully it was you.  It is unfortunate how many too small children play unsupervised in my town. A big   to you

[ptgb]

Just to be on the safe side and as not to feel guilty if you find out something later, you can simply notify the police who (I would hope) would do a bit of snooping around.

I can only speak for my little corner of the policing world, but here (in Ohio) what would happen is the police would simply go there and take a look around, and talk to them. Usually "where there's smoke, there's fire"... if they find the house in disarray, or anything else that make one's eyebrow rise, they can dig deeper, get social services involved, etc.... if all looks fine and there is no other history there, then all's well that end's well.

You can never be 100% sure... but 99 times out of 100 it is an isolated incident and the child is healthy, happy, and no worse for wear.

 

[Rams]

Just to be on the safe side and as not to feel guilty if you find out something later, you can simply notify the police who (I would hope) would do a bit of snooping around.

I can only speak for my little corner of the policing world, but here (in Ohio) what would happen is the police would simply go there and take a look around, and talk to them. Usually "where there's smoke, there's fire"... if they find the house in disarray, or anything else that make one's eyebrow rise, they can dig deeper, get social services involved, etc.... if all looks fine and there is no other history there, then all's well that end's well.

You can never be 100% sure... but 99 times out of 100 it is an isolated incident and the child is healthy, happy, and no worse for wear.

 

Comes down to a judgement call.  Let me assure you, if I felt this was a case of child neglect, Child Protective Services would be immediately called.  I know the Grand Parents, they are very responsible folks,  I don't know the mother but, I know a devastated almost wild with concern and relieved person when I see one.  This mother was absolutely terrified or one hell of a good actor.  As I said, I will be observing. 

blackrams

[valkMJ]

Wow.  Nice work there.  It's been said, but it's great that you took the time to do the right thing rather than just looking the other way.   

[Rams]

Wow.  Nice work there.  It's been said, but it's great that you took the time to do the right thing rather than just looking the other way.   

How anyone could do as implied and look the other way is simply beyond my ability to understand. 

blackrams

[T-Bird]

Almost the same story with me...only 38 yrs ago. I went to pick up my friend for school in the dead of winter. As I was waiting for him in the car,when  I see a little naked girl about 2 walking down the street crying. I put my coat on her and took her in to my friends house, so his mother could help with her. We left for school, and later that day his mother said the little girls mother had went to town while the girl was sleeping, and she awoke and was scared. My friends mother said the girls mother was very young and dumb and made a bad decision. Today the Social Services would be called in.

[JimL]

Wow.  Nice work there.  It's been said, but it's great that you took the time to do the right thing rather than just looking the other way.  

How anyone could do as implied and look the other way is simply beyond my ability to understand.  

blackrams

I agree with your point, and I certainly would have done the same.  To be completely honest I would also calculate the "risk" of doing the right thing....especially if you didn't know the parents of the child.  There are certainly folks who would try to make all kinds of ridiculous claims in order to get "compensated", and if one were unlucky enough to run into a District Attorney like Mike Nifong (of Duke LaCrosse infamy), it could turn into an expensive proposition defending oneself.

[Willow]

... get social services involved, etc....

My personal opinion is that getting social services involved often moves the child out of the frying pan and into the fire.  My observation is that oftentimes social services is not the Devil's advocate, but is, in reality, the Devil incarnate.

[Spirited-6]

Wow.  Nice work there.  It's been said, but it's great that you took the time to do the right thing rather than just looking the other way.  

How anyone could do as implied and look the other way is simply beyond my ability to understand.  

blackrams

I agree with your point, and I certainly would have done the same.  To be completely honest I would also calculate the "risk" of doing the right thing....especially if you didn't know the parents of the child.  There are certainly folks who would try to make all kinds of ridiculous claims in order to get "compensated", and if one were unlucky enough to run into a District Attorney like Mike Nifong (of Duke LaCrosse infamy), it could turn into an expensive proposition defending oneself.

Jim, I agree with you very strongly. A lot of times you are damn if you do and a lot of damn if you don`t. 
Ron, you were wise in your actions. It would be hard not to respond to something like a child in need.
 

[Daniel Meyer]

My personal opinion is that getting social services involved often moves the child out of the frying pan and into the fire.  My observation is that oftentimes social services is not the Devil's advocate, but is, in reality, the Devil incarnate.

+10

Seen it. Fought it.

[Varmintmist]

My personal opinion is that getting social services involved often moves the child out of the frying pan and into the fire.  My observation is that oftentimes social services is not the Devil's advocate, but is, in reality, the Devil incarnate.

+10

Seen it. Fought it.

+2 except CPS drones are not smart enough nor can they make a decision well enough to be the Devil. Mindless little demons, yep, devil, no.

[Serk]

... get social services involved, etc....

My personal opinion is that getting social services involved often moves the child out of the frying pan and into the fire.  My observation is that oftentimes social services is not the Devil's advocate, but is, in reality, the Devil incarnate.

STRONGLY agree... Out of control group with WAAAAAY too much power that need to be reigned in BIG time...

[Madmike]

My son and I discovered a naked lost child this morning, my son was getting into his car to go to work, one of our dogs had walked out to the car with him, I was standing in the garage ensuring the dog didn't try to follow my son. The dog was acting differently than normal, he always keeps his full attention on my son. But this time he was standing ridged, ears perked up and looking down the street. I wasn't sure what he was looking at and from my point of view couldn't see anything. I asked my son what Rudy was looking at. He turned and said there's a butt naked little girl pushing a baby stroller down the street. I came out of the garage and sure enough, that's exactly what was going on.

We both looked around for a parent or baby sitter, none to be seen. So, I walked down the street and tried to talk to her. She wasn't scared of me but being only about two years old, didn't say much except things like "my stroller" and "home". I honestly didn't know who she was, who she belonged to or where she was from. So, I asked my son for his tee shirt, he put it on her and we started knocking on doors. After about a dozen doors, I'm seriously considering calling the police, I don't know this little girl and I'm not feeling comfortable walking around the neighborhood with her.

Regardless, we eventually found a very tramatized mother running around the neighborhood looking for her baby. The child is the granddaughter of one of my neighbors. The mother said, I was changing her diaper and all of a sudden she was gone. I don't know this young lady and I know how kids can and do get a way from you but, I think there is more to the story. All of the properties in our neighborhood are at a minimum of 1/2 acre lots so, there are at most four homes to a block. This little girl was quite a ways from her granny's home, she didn't get there in one or two minutes pushing her baby doll stroller, taking baby steps and in no particular hurry, The child just out for a stroll. My thoughts are that Mom sure takes a long time to change a diaper. But, in all fairness, I don't know her side of the story. One side note to this story is Granny is one of the homes in this neighborhood that has a backyard pool. Think about it.

I didn't call the law, the child was reunited with the mother and all seems to be well now but, for God's Sake, watch your kids!!! I assure you, I will be observing, watching.
The next time, it might not be my son or I that finds your little girl.

blackrams

One of ours got away when she was small.  We were visiting my mother at the time and my daughter went outside - we both thought that she was with the other parent.  Instant panic when we realised she was gone.  They live on a dead end road with bush on one side and beach on the other.  We went down the road and in opposite directions looking - then down on the beach.  It was a very tense few minutes then back to the house and around there- all solid bush.  After about 10 minutes we found her in the carport in my mothers car.

It can happen so fast and which way do you go - right or left high road or low.  I feel for the mother and hope for the childs sake that it was an isolated instance.

[ptgb]

Wow, you must have some doozies for social services where you're from. I have worked with these people for almost 20 years and I honestly cannot pick one instance where I felt they were being overzealous or did not act when needed.

My experiences have been that when they need to be strict and pull a kid out of house and raise cain, it has been justified. Conversely, when restraint is warranted, they use it.

... the group in my County and surrounding areas must be exceptional in comparison.
 

[Dogg]

Must be your area. Florida has to be the worst tho. at least, it used to be.  I lived in Casselberry Fl, outside Orlando back then. A friend and co-worker live a few blocks off. He always tried to be patient with his only child. wife was not. they fought. well, argued. anyway. long story short.... He was a bit upset, went into the garage got in the truck, backed out over the boy's bicycle. Stopped got out ran around, scared to death. found his son standing next to the driveway, not near the bike. He said a few harsh words(nothing bad) but firm about cleaning up and taking care of his stuff(his son was 5 at the time). got back in the truck after removing the bike and went to the store. came home in 20 minutes or so to find police and social services there. his wife ws fighting with police as he got out of the truck. they took his son because of unneccessary cruelty by running over his bike and denying him tv for the night. Neighbor called and told them it was 10 times worse than it really was. took him 2 years to get his son back, wife left him and he did it all on his own. son is now in his late 20's and not what I would call overly productive.

   At the time, cps was commonly referred to as the gestapo.  Just went thru a bunch of crap with my oldest daughter and cps. what a joke....I wont explain why cuz then Id be a racist...

[f6gal]

Wow, what a sad commentary on our society... that people would be afraid to stop and help a lost child.

'nuf said. 

[Gunslinger]

... get social services involved, etc....

My personal opinion is that getting social services involved often moves the child out of the frying pan and into the fire.  My observation is that oftentimes social services is not the Devil's advocate, but is, in reality, the Devil incarnate.

+10

[Gunslinger]

Wow, you must have some doozies for social services where you're from. I have worked with these people for almost 20 years and I honestly cannot pick one instance where I felt they were being overzealous or did not act when needed.

My experiences have been that when they need to be strict and pull a kid out of house and raise cain, it has been justified. Conversely, when restraint is warranted, they use it.

... the group in my County and surrounding areas must be exceptional in comparison.
 

They must be, Thankfully I have had no personal interaction with them but know several who have. In Kansas at least they are of the opinion "Guilty until proved innocent". Even in the face of overwhelming evidence from highly trained professionals against the charges I have seen them not simply pull children out of the home but keep them in the system till beyond the age of 18 yet unwilling to offer charges on the parents for lack of ANY evidence.

In for a penny in for a pound, once in the system in Kansas it is nearly impossible for a family to be reunited even under evidence of false claims.

[JimL]

Wow, what a sad commentary on our society... that people would be afraid to stop and help a lost child.

'nuf said.  

Connie I don't necessarily disagree with your statement, however I do look at the matter from a slightly different perspective.  It would truly be a sad commentary if someone refused to act to help a lost child, those of us who are parents would hope that if our child needed assistance someone would be there to help.  I would also say that it would take a fool not to realize the potential criminal/legal consequences under the right (although unlikely) circumstances.

Do the right thing...but protect yourself in the process.

[czuch]

I'm glad you did the right thing.
Commentary on CPS;   (rant)
 As a single Dad with full custody and a boatload of unpaid, due, child support let me give a brief scenario..
The ex-wife, not her mother, got under my daughter's skin and got her to go to court. I was deemed unfit as a parent and she was declared "placement". I have to maintain insurance. She became a ward of the state. They changed agents 3 times on me and I didnt even get a visit,call,interview.She has since pulled her head out and is wanting to be "Daddy's little girl" again. Thats fine, I'm all for it. She turns 18 in August. Wants a car, I'm a major motorhead and I have 12 cars. (I know) As a ward of the state, if anything should happen, I lose BIG. Dad, I wanna get my drivers licence, nope. I cant do that for you either. Cant have the responsibility. Thats the state's call. Took away some of the major milestones I was looking forward to all my life. I bought a 98 Shadow ACE painted the same as the 97 Tourer so we could ride and be "Daddy/Daughter"cool. Did I mention, $600 dollars a month to the ex-wife for child support? I only got $212.00 a month and she's 25k behind, I'm paid to date.
The court was a tar and feather party. I tried to set the "good judge" on the right track once and was told "the Father is usually not reliable"
.02

[Varmintmist]

In PA, you are guilty until proven innocent, then you are on probation. The other fun fact is that you are not allowed to know your accuser.

I wouldnt pee on a CPS worker if they were on fire.

[CajunRider]

Similar... but scarier incident... (long...)

I'm driving down HWY190 several years back.  For those who don't live around here... HWY190 is a 4-lane divided (by a simple metal rail) highway that STAYS busy... Lots of those big 18-wheeled trucks driving up/down this road. 

Well... oodly enough, I'm by myself... no cars for a mile in front or behind me.  I notice something moving... wouldn't you know 2 kids (2yr old and 4 yr old) run into the road in front of me!!!

All I could do was hit brakes and turn the wheel... so off the shoulder, through a parking lot, and down a gravel drive I go at 65 mph in a Chevy pick-up.  (I figure... I might survive a bad crash... a kid wouldn't survive a pickup to the head at 65 mph... so I chose to attempt dodging the children and hope for the best...) Actually... I didn't choose anything... that was PURE instinct... I just turned the wheel and hit the brakes...

Anyway... I looked out my driver side window as I pass by to see if I missed the kids... I see a head pass under (directly under) my side mirror... that's how close it was.

After I finally stop the truck (without wrecking!!!  ) I throw it  in reverse and red-line it back to the scene. (Thankfully, that engine was good at taking abuse without blowing up...)

As I'm watching these kids trying to cross the barrier, I jam the E-brake, throw it in neutral, kill the engine, and jump out the trunk in a full sprint (BEFORE the truck even stopped moving). 

I run across the HWY watching as a BIG bunch of cars get closer... grab one of the kids as another couple coming from the other direction grabs the other one... and high-tail it for the shoulder. 

Two kids ALIVE and well... no wrecks... and me almost passing out some time later... the cops show up. 

Guess where the parents were????

In their house high on Cocaine, with the doors LOCKED. ... ... ... ... Lovely.

The skid marks from me going off the road were clearly visible for a couple years after that... I cringe every time I pass by there.

[Rams]

Similar... but scarier incident... (long...)

I'm driving down HWY190 several years back.  For those who don't live around here... HWY190 is a 4-lane divided (by a simple metal rail) highway that STAYS busy... Lots of those big 18-wheeled trucks driving up/down this road. 

Well... oodly enough, I'm by myself... no cars for a mile in front or behind me.  I notice something moving... wouldn't you know 2 kids (2yr old and 4 yr old) run into the road in front of me!!!

All I could do was hit brakes and turn the wheel... so off the shoulder, through a parking lot, and down a gravel drive I go at 65 mph in a Chevy pick-up.  (I figure... I might survive a bad crash... a kid wouldn't survive a pickup to the head at 65 mph... so I chose to attempt dodging the children and hope for the best...) Actually... I didn't choose anything... that was PURE instinct... I just turned the wheel and hit the brakes...

Anyway... I looked out my driver side window as I pass by to see if I missed the kids... I see a head pass under (directly under) my side mirror... that's how close it was.

After I finally stop the truck (without wrecking!!!  ) I throw it  in reverse and red-line it back to the scene. (Thankfully, that engine was good at taking abuse without blowing up...)

As I'm watching these kids trying to cross the barrier, I jam the E-brake, throw it in neutral, kill the engine, and jump out the trunk in a full sprint (BEFORE the truck even stopped moving). 

I run across the HWY watching as a BIG bunch of cars get closer... grab one of the kids as another couple coming from the other direction grabs the other one... and high-tail it for the shoulder. 

Two kids ALIVE and well... no wrecks... and me almost passing out some time later... the cops show up. 

Guess where the parents were????

In their house high on Cocaine, with the doors LOCKED. ... ... ... ... Lovely.

The skid marks from me going off the road were clearly visible for a couple years after that... I cringe every time I pass by there.

Sir,
Whether you know and admit it or not, you are a White Knight.  I'd be proud to call you friend.  Thank You.

blackrams
aka: Ron

[FLAVALK]

Danger on sooo many levels. (1) For the child possibly being injured/abducted/killed (2) for the mother possibly being accused of child neglect. (3) For you possibly being accused of child abduction. Don't think it can happen? Let a neighbor look at the window at precisely the wrong time and see you with a small naked girl. No matter the good intentions, people are going to think the worse.

We just had a case here is Orlando where a 14-yo boy tried to help a lost 3-yo girl find her mom in a department store. They went outside together because the boy that that a lady leaving was the mom. Someone saw them and called the cops. They arrested the kid for false imprisonment and it took weeks to get it cleared up.
You done good and I would have done the same, but be careful!

No good deed goes unpunished....

[Rams]

Danger on sooo many levels. (1) For the child possibly being injured/abducted/killed (2) for the mother possibly being accused of child neglect. (3) For you possibly being accused of child abduction. Don't think it can happen? Let a neighbor look at the window at precisely the wrong time and see you with a small naked girl. No matter the good intentions, people are going to think the worse.

We just had a case here is Orlando where a 14-yo boy tried to help a lost 3-yo girl find her mom in a department store. They went outside together because the boy that that a lady leaving was the mom. Someone saw them and called the cops. They arrested the kid for false imprisonment and it took weeks to get it cleared up.
You done good and I would have done the same, but be careful!

No good deed goes unpunished....

While I understand the possibilities, there was and is no way I could allow that child to wonder around the neighborhood, walking in the street.  Whether she was dressed or not isn't the issue, a two year old alone on the streets is going to get my attention.  If that means I am risking something, so be it.  There are many wrongs in life I can not correct but I won't knowingly allow a child to be hurt.

blackrams
aka: Ron

[SlowRoad]

While I understand the possibilities, there was and is no way I could allow that child to wonder around the neighborhood, walking in the street.  Whether she was dressed or not isn't the issue, a two year old alone on the streets is going to get my attention.  If that means I am risking something, so be it.  There are many wrongs in life I can not correct but I won't knowingly allow a child to be hurt.

blackrams
aka: Ron



Ron, I was just sitting here thinking the same thing as I was reading all the comments.  Good on you!!!!

Tim

[Rams]

Ron, I was just sitting here thinking the same thing as I was reading all the comments.  Good on you!!!!

Tim

Tim,
Don't think I'm any kind of angel, I'm not.  If I saw President Obama's limo on fire, I'd help the Secret Service and driver get out alive........................

One has to weigh the risk and the results.  It's always a judgement call.    

Ron