Safford Police assist wandering child before winter storm

Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald

Report to be forwarded to DCS

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

SAFFORD – The Safford Police Department returned a wandering 2-year-old child back to his parent after being discovered walking along Relation Street by himself at about 8 p.m. Wednesday, just before a winter storm hit the area.  

The child had been placed at a babysitter’s residence while the child’s parent went to work. 

However, at about 7:58 p.m., County Dispatch received a report of a child walking on the sidewalk by himself. The reporting party stayed with the child until an officer arrived. 

Officers then began a search for the parents or guardians of the child through a door-to-door canvass of the area. After about an hour, officers learned the child was left at a babysitter’s residence and his parent was contacted. The parent responded to the area and retrieved the boy, who was unharmed, according to a Safford Police news release. 

The Safford Police Department advised a report will be forwarded to the Graham County Attorney’s Office for possible charges, as well as to the Arizona Department of Child Safety. The incident remains under investigation.