2 Children Found Wandering Willett Avenue in Port Chester

Two children found wandering on a Port Chester street Tuesday were identified with the help of community members and returned home safely after about 90 minutes, according to Port Chester Police.

An investigation found that a 17-year-old relative who was babysitting the children fell asleep while he was watching them at a Willett Avenue home, allowing the children to get out of the home. Police have charged the Port Chester teen with endangering the welfare for the children.

Lt. James Ladeairous said village police were alerted by a 54-year-old Port Chester man that there were two children wandering the neighborhood. Just before 6 p.m. on Tuesday, police said they found the children, who told officers they were wanted to go to the train so they could go to "Grammie's house."

The children, an 8-year-old austitic boy, and a 4-year-old girl, could not tell police their last names or where they lived. The boy was also dressed in boxer shorts underwear at the time.

After being unable to determine where the children had wandered from and checking nearby homes, the two were taken to Port Chester Police Headquarters on North Main Street. Ladeairous said the man who initially found the children agreed to spread the word in his Willett Avenue neighborhood about the childrenand at about 7:30 p.m. several village residents went to police headquarters and were able to identify the children.

The children, who are releated, were safely returned to their families. Ladeairous said the teenager who was babysitting the children admitted that he had fallen asleep and didn't wake up until about 7:30 p.m. He was cited for endangering the welfare of a child and faces a hearing in Port Chester Village Court.

Port Chester Police also sought assitance from the Westchester County Child Protectives Services.