A Miami Beach woman, Alize Angel Rodriguez, 20, is facing charges after her young child was found alone in a local park. She has been charged with child neglect, possession of controlled substances, and possession of cannabis, according to authorities, according to a Local 10 report.
Police responded to a report of an unattended 5-year-old child at a park on Meridian Avenue. Witnesses stated the boy had been playing alone for 20 minutes to an hour before the police were called, as per WSVN. The child told officers that his mother leaves him in the park as punishment when he misbehaves, according to an arrest report.
Police found Rodriguez nearby, along with a purse she had discarded. The purse contained Xanax pills, cannabis, and drug paraphernalia. Witnesses told police that Rodriguez appeared incoherent and possibly under the influence before leaving the park.
Rodriguez was arrested and charged with third-degree child neglect, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of cannabis under 20 grams. She admitted to the officers that the items in the purse were hers. After her arrest, the child was taken to the Miami Beach Police Station and later placed in the care of his maternal grandmother. Rodriguez is currently held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, awaiting a bond hearing.
