Lakewood Police Believe All Children 'Accounted For' After 4-Year-Old Runs Off
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) - Police in Lakewood searched for a child on Monday morning and afternoon after two boys were found unattended and one ran off before officers could reach them.
Police were called to the area of West 18th Avenue and Kendall Street on a call of two boys, about 2 and 4 years old, who were alone. The good Samaritan who called police tried to have both boys wait until officers arrived, but the older child ran away.
Police searched for the child who ran away and a Code Red reverse 911 call was put out to residents of the area asking them to call police if they saw the child.
Police canvassed the area visiting apartments with the 2-year-old and the child's mother, Katie Reid, was located at her home. She told police her child was being watched by another woman who lives across the apartment complex courtyard, Nadine Bradshaw. Bradshaw told police she had watched Reid's child cross the courtyard but got distracted and never witnessed Reid's child make it home.
"As soon as they brought my kid back my heart dropped," Reid said.
Reid said she assumed he child was safe with Bradshaw.
"She wasn't paying attention, she wasn't doing what she was supposed to do," Reid said.
It appears Reid's child met up with the 4-year-old who was seen by the good Samaritan. After investigating police believe the 4-year-old was actually Bradshaw's nephew and may not have been missing.
"We don't have any calls from parents about a missing child and we have no calls reporting any type of criminal activity," Randy McNitt with Lakewood Police said. "But certainly we have this kid that we haven't been able to account for, and that's our priority."
Police announced they believe all the children are accounted for. Bradshaw, her nephew and granddaughter were taken to police headquarters to interview the children and determine if the 4-year-old was the one reported by the good Samaritan.
"That lady sent her kids over here with me and I was responsible for (those) babies, and because I didn't walk him all the way over there is where I feel crappy for because this whole time she thought her son was over here with me," Bradshaw said. "She didn't have (a) clue what was going on with him."
Police say the investigators on the case and the district attorney office will determine if any charges could be filed.
