A New Canaan father was charged last week with neglect after his 11-year-old special needs son was found running towards the road by a neighbor, according to authorities.
Sgt. Carol Ogrinc said Monday that police received a call on Monday, July 1, at approximately 4:26 p.m. from a concerned neighbor who spotted a child from the area known to have some disabilities running by himself towards Smith Ridge Road.
The complainant wrangled up the child until police arrived on-scene, Ogrinc said. Officers who knocked on the door of the child's residence were greeted by an 8-year-old, who said his father was not home, she said. When the officers entered the home, police discovered the children's 58-year-old father sleeping in a downstairs room.
Ogrinc said when officers described to the father what had happened, he said he accidentally fell asleep and the child was normally in the room with him but must have gotten out somehow.
The man was charged with two counts of risk of injury to a minor and posted a $510 cash bond. He was issued a court date of July 12. His name is withheld to protect the identities of the victims.
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