'Escape Artist' Does It Again: Woman Discovers 4-Year-Old on Her Porch

Caledonia police confirmed Wednesday that a 4-year-old boy once again got out of his apartment while his father slept just a few feet away.

A resident notified police around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday that she found a little boy on her porch. He was unharmed and gave officers his name when CAPD responded, but didn't tell police why he left home or where he was going.

Lt. Gary Larsen confirmed this is the same little boy who snuck out of his family's apartment July 9, again, while his father was asleep. He reportedly told police then that he was going to the "dollar store." This same child was found wandering around in a diaper in 2011 when he was just two years old.

"The family purchased a child-proof handle for the doors to try and prevent this, but apparently it didn't work," Larsen said.

Tiffany Troutman, the boy's mother, was criminally charged for the 2011 incident but didn't serve any jail time. The boy's father was arrested for neglect last week and was again Wednesday.

Racine County District Attorney Rich Chiapete told Patch the father could be charged in the next day or two.

A representative from Racine County Human Services last week called the boy an "escape artist."

Police reports indicate the home is clean and there is food in the fridge and cupboards.

Larsen confirmed the boy and another child were removed from the home again and taken into protective custody. 

Kerry Milkie, manager of Youth and Family Division at HSD, said she can't comment specifically about this case, she did say that neglect covers a variety of definitions, including lack of supervision.

"In general, if families can't keep children safe, then we will initiate court action," she said. "Neglect covers a host of issues, including lack of supervision."