Woman charged with neglect

By Times Staff Writer
Published December 18, 2007

TEMPLE TERRACE - Police have arrested a 22-year-old woman, accusing her of leaving a toddler home alone in a locked house.

Jean N. Ruth of 5410 Strathmore Lane, Apt. 256, faces charges of child neglect and giving a false report to law enforcement after, police say, she left a 3-year-old boy home alone.

At 9:15 p.m. Sunday, Ruth's neighbors called police, saying they heard a child crying. When officers arrived, they saw a child staring out the window of the apartment, said police spokesman Michael Dunn. The door was locked. Officers knocked several times, but no one answered.

Ruth later returned to the apartment and told investigators her sister had been baby-sitting the boy while Ruth picked up a relative from work, Dunn said. Investigators determined that was false and arrested Ruth.

Dunn said the boy was left alone less than an hour and was unhurt. It's up to the discretion of investigators to determine whether a child is being neglected in such a situation, he said. Investigators must determine whether the boy could care for himself, Dunn said.

Ruth remained in the Hillsborough County Jail Monday, held in lieu of $8,000 bail.

Times staff

[Last modified December 18, 2007, 00:48:01]