Lake Wales, Florida – Lake Wales Police responded to Carillon Place on Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 3:35am in regards to a four year old child found wandering around the apartment complex. Lake Wales Police talked with the child and asked where her parents were, she stated, she didn’t know. The person who called police advised he heard a child outside his door calling for her mother. He stated he opened the door and found the child asking for her mother. He stated after the parent did not show up for 20 minutes, he called law enforcement. While checking the residence, LWPD located a two year old male asleep in his crib. After LWPD was on scene for approx. 20 minutes the mother, Justine Jones 24, arrived home. Jones allegedly advised she went to pick up her live in boyfriend from work. She stated she was only gone for 10 minutes but this was not the case. At the conclusion of his investigation, it was determined, the children were left unattended for a period of at least 45 minutes. Jones was taken into custody and charged with child neglect without bodily harm for leaving the four year old and the two year old unattended for such a long period of time. Jones was later transported to the county jail without incident. The Department of Children and Families was notified. Jones’ mother responded to the location and took custody of the children.
