Rosa Carolina Recarte Gomez of Miami, Florida was arrested after her child was found walking alone outdoors early Thursday morning, news sources indicate. The child's name and age were withheld in public reports; he was handed over to the Department of Children and Families following Gomez's arrest. Gomez, 30, was booked into the Miami-Dade County Jail on charges of child neglect. It is unclear whether she qualified for bail bond. It is also not yet known whether she has hired a lawyer.
Reports say the alleged incident occurred sometime around 4:00 Thursday morning at Gomez's residence. The child purportedly awoke and found that his mother was not at home. According to police, the child made his way to the home's entrance, which was locked. He used a heavy object to break out a window and then climbed out of the home, sources say. During that escape, reports say the child sustained lacerations to his hands.
Authorities later found the child walking near Southwest 14th Avenue and 1st Street in Miami, Florida. The police collected the boy and asked him why he was out alone and where his mother was. The boy did not know where his mother, Gomez, was, but police were able to track her down and contact her on her cellular telephone. She reportedly told officers that she was at a friend's home and that she had left the child home alone because he was sleeping; she told officer that she did not expect him to wake up until morning. It is not clear how long the child had been alone when he awoke.
In other news, Hoyt F. Deering, a West Palm Beach, Florida store owner, was arrested Wednesday after he was accused of selling counterfeit goods from his shop, reports indicate. Deering, 74, was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on charges stemming from the sale of the counterfeit merchandise. He was later released on his own recognizance. It is not known whether he has hired legal representation, nor is it clear whether police believe there may be other suspects involved.