A 20-year-old Florida woman, Alize Angel Rodriguez, has been charged with child neglect after her 5-year-old son was found alone in a Miami Beach park.
Witnesses reported seeing Rodriguez leave the park with a man in a gray Toyota, according to a police report. .. Continue reading here ▶
The boy told officers his mother often left him at the park as punishment when he misbehaved. Witnesses said the child had been walking alone in the park for about 20 minutes before police arrived.
Some witnesses also claimed Rodriguez appeared to be under the influence when she left. One person later saw her nearby and noticed her throwing a purse into a bush. Police found marijuana and pills, including Xanax, inside the purse.
Rodriguez was arrested the same day and denied being under the influence. She faces charges of felony child neglect without great bodily harm, possession of a controlled substance, and a misdemeanor for possessing less than 20 grams of marijuana.
The child has been placed in the care of his grandmother. Rodriguez is currently being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with a $3,000 bond. Her next court date has not been scheduled.
