State Police: Toddler Found Wandering Around Neighborhood As Babysitter Slept

DANIELSON, CT - A 23-year-old uncle is facing a criminal charge after he slept through babysitting duty and a child wandered into the Tuesday morning mist, state police said.

The "small" child was noticed by a postal worker near the intersection of St. James Row and Cottage Street at 10:45 a.m., according to an arrest report. The child, a 2-year-old boy, was alone, wearing only a soiled diaper and shivering in the morning mist, state police said.

A woman was also caring for the child with the postal worker when state police arrived, according to an arrest report.

After about 20 minutes, Tyler Ayotte-Pierce, 23, came running down the street toward the scene, state police said. He said he was the child's uncle, was babysitting and was sleeping, according to an arrest report. He said he was the child's uncle and told police he had no idea the child wandered off, according to an arrest report.

Based on visible "neglect," state police said they charged him with risk of injury to a child.

The state Department of Children and Families is investigating the matter, state police said.

Photo Credit: Booking mug shot of Ayotte-Pierce furnished by state police

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