Lake City, FL – Two people were arrested after Columbia County deputies responded to a welfare check involving a young child who was found walking alone and unsupervised in a Lake City neighborhood.
According to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began at approximately 9:27 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, after a neighbor reported finding a young child walking alone on NW Yates Loop. The neighbor brought the child to safety and contacted 911 after realizing no parent or guardian was nearby.
Deputies canvassed the neighborhood and located the child’s residence in the 500 block of NW Yates Loop. After receiving no response at the door and discovering the back door ajar and the front door unlocked, deputies entered the home under what they described as exigent circumstances to check on the welfare of anyone inside.
Inside, deputies found two adults asleep. Investigators also reported finding a used hypodermic needle on the edge of a bathtub and additional needles on a bathroom counter. The adults allegedly told deputies they had overslept and were unaware the child had left the home.
Authorities identified the adults as Brandon Emory Williams, 41, and Ashton Seaira Marie Young, 29, the child’s mother. Investigators said a liquid substance recovered from one of the needles tested positive for methamphetamine.
The Florida Department of Children and Families was notified and took custody of the child.
Williams was charged with child neglect, possession of drug equipment, possession of a controlled substance, providing a false name to law enforcement, and an out-of-county warrant, according to the sheriff’s office. Young was charged with child neglect, possession of drug equipment, possession of a controlled substance, and violation of probation.
The investigation remains ongoing. As with all criminal cases, the allegations are accusations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
