Deputies in Florida arrested a father after allegedly discovering his 2-year-old son wandering alone on the street while wearing a soiled diaper.
Concerned neighbors on Collins Lane in Palm Coast contacted the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office around 9 a.m. Sunday after seeing the boy walking in the middle of the street “with no guardian in sight” and cars stopping in the road to avoid hitting him, according to a probable cause arrest affidavit. When neighbors approached the boy, he pointed to his home.
A neighbor noticed the door was wide open and went inside to find the boy’s father, 44-year-old Ross Edward Judy, sleeping inside, according to the affidavit.
Judy awoke and went outside to retrieve his son, who was unharmed. Neighbors noticed that the boy had been outside alone for at least 30 minutes.
When Judy saw the cops arrive, he went inside and closed the door. Police discovered that the boy had a “very soiled” diaper.
The outside of the house was in “disarray” and covered in “trash, bottles, rusty cans, rusty tools, electrical wiring, and other miscellaneous hazardous items,” according to the affidavit. There was also a chainsaw on the ground near the front door.
Judy, who allegedly smelled of alcohol, allowed the deputies to search the inside of the house. Police reported that the floors and countertops were covered in feces, trash, and alcoholic beverage containers.
“The bathrooms were unusable due to the amount of trash, feces, general filth, alcoholic beverage containers, bugs swimming in toilet water, and the sink was piled high with several inches of cigarette ash to the point that the sink was no longer visual,” according to the statement of claim.
Pill bottles, exposed razors, and needles were also said to be “readily accessible” to the boy. Deputies reported that his room contained a crib and dirty diapers on the floor.
Officials said the alleged neglect extended beyond the boy, with deputies discovering a large dog locked in a cage.
“The dog had a rotting ear infection to the point that the ear was literally rotting,” according to deputies. “There were urine stains on the dog’s underbelly. His back and tail had lost some of their fur.”
Judy was arrested on felony charges of child neglect without bodily harm and animal abandonment. He remained in the Flagler County Jail on Wednesday morning on a $4,000 bond.
Deputies released the boy to his grandparents.
“No child should live in deplorable conditions with an adult who clearly does not care about their well-being,” Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement. “The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office will not tolerate anyone endangering children or animals.
I am grateful to our residents who’saw something and said something’, allowing our deputies to intervene.
