Wandering 4-year-old returned by police

A four-year-old child found wandering Range Avenue early Saturday morning was returned home by Philadelphia Police.

Police Chief Eric Lyons said that the child has been returned safely and that no charges are expected related to the incident.

“I believe the parents were sleeping as was the child and the child woke up and was able to open a door and leave the residence,” Lyons said.

“We don’t believe the parents were negligent in this incident but will be more aware from now on and precautions taken to assure this doesn’t happen again.” 

Lyons said PPD received a call at 4:51 a.m. on Saturday, May 29, reporting that a small child had been spotted walking in the street near the intersection of Byrd and Range avenues below the Ellis Theater.

Officers then responded to the area and the child was found on Range near Breland Street.

After riding the neighborhood looking for possible open doors on residences, officers located an open back door at a residence on Range Avenue and determined the child had left from there walking north toward town.