UPDATE: No criminal charges to be laid against parents of wandering baby
KINGSTON, Jamaica — No criminal charges are to be brought against the parents of a baby found wandering along a major roadway in St Catherine recently.
The update was given by the police in a press release Tuesday night after a video of the incident made its rounds on social media.
Confirming that the child’s father was located shortly after the events in the video, the police said no criminal investigation is being pursued at this time.
According to the police, following enquiries made into the circumstances, the case was brought to a close after officers were satisfied that no intentional harm or neglect was meant to the child.
However, the police assured that the necessary follow-up is being done through the Community Safety and Security Branch to support the family.
The parents were also referred to the relevant state agencies for advice, the police said.
In the viral video that captured the incident, a man could be heard cursing after he stopped behind the baby who was almost in the middle of the road. Another motorist in front of him, behind whose vehicle the baby stood, exited and approached the child.
A passing police vehicle immediately stopped, and two policemen disembarked. One of the policemen took up the child and gave it to the other. They were going back into their vehicle when the video ended.
READ: Confusion surrounds baby found wandering on busy roadway in St Catherine
Several social media users had launched a tirade on the baby’s mother, bashing her for what they described as careless behaviour.