Two young children were found alone outside in Taylor earlier this morning, and police are now asking the public for help identifying them and locating their parents or guardians. Officers put out the call for assistance at around 5:30 a.m., a stark reminder of how quickly local police must move when small kids turn up without an adult in sight.
According to FOX 2 Detroit, Taylor police asked the public to contact the department with any information that could help identify either child. Anyone with details is urged to call the Taylor Police Department at 734-287-6611, according to the same report. As of the report, officers were still working to locate the children's parent or guardian.
What Happens Next Under Michigan Law
Once officers take custody of a child who isn't in a parent's or guardian's physical care, state law sets a fast clock. Under Michigan's Child Protection Law, per the Michigan Legislature, police and Children's Protective Services must launch a joint investigation within 24 hours to secure the child's welfare. Investigators are also expected to move quickly to enter identifying details into statewide and national databases; the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children guides agencies to log such cases into the Law Enforcement Information Network and the National Crime Information Center to speed up reunification with family.
The circumstances that led to the children being outside alone remain unknown, including how long they may have been unattended and their physical condition, which are among the open questions police have not yet addressed publicly. It's also unclear whether Children's Protective Services has taken temporary protective custody while officers continue trying to find their home.
What the Law Says About Child Endangerment
If investigators ultimately determine that a parent or guardian intentionally left a young child outside, Michigan law carries serious consequences. Under Michigan Penal Code Section 750.135, exposing a child under six years old in a street, field, or public space with intent to abandon or endanger them is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, according to the Michigan Legislature. That statute is distinct from Michigan's Safe Delivery of Newborns Act, which the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services notes allows parents to anonymously surrender unharmed infants up to 72 hours old at police stations, fire houses, or hospitals without facing charges — a protection that does not extend to older children found outside.
Taylor operates its police department out of a central station at 23515 Goddard Road, according to the City of Taylor, with a force of about 92 sworn officers covering the Downriver Wayne County community, per Discover Policing. Taylor sits roughly 15 miles southwest of downtown Detroit, spanning 23.6 square miles with a population of 63,409 as of the 2020 U.S. Census, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
A Pattern of Community Tips Aiding Local Police
Cases like this one often hinge on tips from residents rather than investigative work alone. In February, public safety officers in neighboring Monroe safely rescued two small children from extreme neglect after a concerned neighbor called 911 to request a welfare check, according to the Monroe Public Safety Department — a recent regional example of how a single call can change the outcome for vulnerable kids.
Taylor police have handled other child-related emergencies in recent years. In January 2025, the department issued a public call for assistance after 12-year-old Clayton Luther went missing following his family's notice of an impending Children's Protective Services placement, according to ClickOnDetroit. Hoodline has also previously reported on Taylor police conducting undercover operations targeting online child predators, which resulted in 14 arrests across Wayne County.
For now, the priority for Taylor police is identifying the two children and finding their family. Anyone with information is asked to call the department at 734-287-6611.
