A 22-year-old Mary Esther woman is potentially facing jailtime after the Walton County Sheriff’s Office says she left her toddler alone at a playground for nearly two hours in 100-plus degree heat.
Deputies arrested Danielle Bryant on one charge of child neglect without great bodily harm after what deputies call a “good Samaritan” rescued the 3-year-old from walking in the middle of oncoming traffic next to the playground near Silver Sands Premium Outlets on June 15.
“This could have ended much worse,” said Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “Thanks to the good Samaritans who stepped in and the quick action by our deputies, this little boy is safe.”
The WCSO says that a concerned citizen approached a deputy at Silver Sands around 1:11 p.m., stating the 3-year-old boy had been playing on the playground by himself since at least 11:30 a.m.
Witnesses at the playground said the toddler nearly ran into oncoming traffic before a bystander intervened. After failing to locate the boy’s parents, the good Samaritan brought him to Silver Sands security.
While deputies were interviewing additional witnesses at the playground, Bryant approached them and asked about her son. She told deputies she had been working at a nearby store and was allegedly watching him through the store’s window while working.
“However, Bryant was unaware that her son had been with a bystander for approximately 45 minutes or that he had attempted to run into traffic, prompting the witness to alert security,” a WCSO release said. “At no point did she contact law enforcement to report her child missing.”
Deputies say at the time the child was alone on the playground, the temperature was 88 degrees with a heat index of 101, and the toddler did not have food or water.
“This kind of situation is not only dangerous, it is unacceptable” Adkinson said.
Bryant was released from Walton County jail June 16 on her own recognizance. Her next scheduled court date is July 22.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Danielle Bryant charged with leaving toddler on hot playground
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