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Sam Penrod reportingA disturbing case of child neglect in Orem: A driver finds a year old baby boy crawling across State Street in the middle of the night.
The baby was staying with relatives in Orem while his mother was working overnight.
Those relatives that were suppose to be babysitting, and had no idea the child was even missing until six hours later when police started going door to door.
Even in the middle of the night, State Street is the busiest road in Utah County.
And as a driver swerved to miss what he thought was a dog in the road, it turned out to be a one-year-old baby boy.
"Police Dispatcher: OREM POLICE DEPARTMENT... 911 Caller: HI, I'M BETWEEN STATE STREET AND 1600 SOUTH AND I WAS GOING NORTHBOUND AND I GUESS THERE WAS A BABY CRAWLING IN THE ROAD."
This 911 call came into Orem police at 3:10 this morning.
Officers arrived to this stretch of State Street in Orem to find a one-year-old baby boy, wearing only a dirty diaper.
Lt. Doug Edwards/Orem Dept. of Public Safety: "HE GOT DIRT AND BLOOD ON HIS KNEES, HANDS AND FACE, PROBABLY FROM CRAWLING THE DISTANCE THAT HE DID. "
Police say the child crawled nearly a block!
The child was staying overnight with his grandmother and aunt.
They've told authorities the baby was not in a crib, rather sleeping in a bed. The front door was left open to let cool air in and the screen door apparently didn't latch, allowing the child to wander away.
"Lt. Doug Edwards: "RIGHT NOW THE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE POINTING FINGERS AT EACH OTHER, SAYING I THOUGHT YOU WERE WATCHING HIM, NO I THOUGHT YOU WERE WATCHING HIM AND BASICALLY NOBODY WAS WATCHING."
An Orem police dispatcher used her own supplies and changed the baby's diaper and dressed it. The baby is now in the custody of the Division of Child and Family Services.
A hearing is scheduled for next week to determine if the mother of the baby will regain custody of the child.
Carol Sisco/Division of Child and Family Services: "WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THE LITTLE BOY RIGHT NOW, WE'RE INVESTIGATING TO SEE WHAT REALLY HAPPEND SO WE CAN DECIDE WHAT TO DO."
Orem police are still investigating what happened. A decision on whether child neglect or endangerment charges will be filed will likely be made in the next few days.
