LOS ANGELES (KGTV) - A mother who apparently abandoned her deaf son at Union Station in Wednesday was arrested Thursday when she returned to the area, Los Angeles Police said.
The boy, who is between five and seven years old, was found alone at the train station about 7 p.m. and turned over to the custody of police.
Surveillance video showed a woman in her 20s leaving the boy near a crepe restaurant, KABC reported. When a restaurant worker confronted the woman about abandoning the boy, she walked away.
A sign language interpreter tried to communicate with him and he did not respond. Police say the boy may have autism.
Hours after the LAPD released the boy's photo, he was reunited with family members. His mother returned to the station at 2 p.m. Thursday and was taken into custody. She may face child abandonment or child neglect charges, police said.
The boy is African-American, three feet, five inches tall and weighs about 60 pounds. He has brown eyes and long, braided black hair. He was wearing a blue down jacket, white tank top, beige pants and grey tennis shoes.
Union Station is located in downtown Los Angeles and serves Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner train with connection to San Diego County, as well as other Amtrak and Metrolink trains.
Anyone with information can contact the LAPD at 877-527-3247 or LA Regional Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS. They can remain anonymous.
