A Blountstown man is behind bars on $10,000 bond after his two-year-old son was found wandering toward Highway 20 Friday afternoon.
Edward Norris Young, 25, has been charged with neglect of a child.
According to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, a woman on John F. Bailey Road advised she and her husband had spotted a toddler walking alone toward Hwy. 20 in the area of Flanders Auto. Dep. Jody Hoagland arrived to find the woman holding the small boy’s hand. She said the child had been with her for 10 minutes and no one appeared to be looking for him. The little boy gave Dep. Hoagland his name and age, but did not know his parents’ names or where he lived.
About a half hour later, Young appeared on the scene. When Dep. Hoagland asked if he was looking for a child, Young reportedly laughed and said he was looking for his son. Dep. Hoagland told him to return to his home and he would drive the boy to the residence.
Young reportedly stated he had fallen asleep with the boy on his lap and woke to find him missing, remarking he had been asleep for about 10 minutes. Young further stated he had gotten the boy that afternoon from the child’s mother for a visit. Young allegedly admitted to smoking mojo, a synthetic form of marijuana.
Department of Children and Families was contacted. The boy was turned over to the care of his mother.
