Mother Arrested After Toddler Boy Found Wandering Busy Street Alone

The little boy was wearing a bicycle-themed shirt and had a pacifier when he was found

A Southern California mother was arrested Thursday night after her 2-year-old son was found wandering barefoot and alone on a busy street earlier in the day.

Asia Ramsey, 20, was booked for child endangerment after being reunited with her son three hours after he was found by a tow truck driver near Imperial Highway and Elm Street in Lynwood, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The boy was spotted walking in the middle of the street alone about 2:30 p.m., according to Lt. Dan Nathan, with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The tow truck driver flagged down a sheriff's deputy, who picked up the child and searched for someone who may be responsible for the boy, but could find no one, Nathan said.

The boy was found wearing a white shirt with bicycles on it, blue shorts and sucking on a pacificer, officials said.

A relative of the toddler called the LA Sheriff's Department Century Station to report the 2-year-old missing about 5:30 p.m., about three hours after he was found on the street, officials said.

Shortly after 6 p.m., sheriff's officials held a news conference to say they were "confident" they had reunited the boy with his mother and grandmother.

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They are now trying to determine how the child was left alone on such a busy street near the 710 Freeway. He was found "a short distance" from his home, officials said.

Investigators had trouble communicating with the toddler, who appeared to be in "great health."

"He does baby noises, and stuff like that, but obviously can't tell us who he is or where he belongs," said sheriff's Sgt. Marcelo Quintero.

The boy was taken to a hospital as a precaution and the county’s Department of Children and Family Services has been notified, Quintero said.

Authorities held off releasing photos of the boy Thursday night in hopes that they could resolve the situation privately.

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