Once again, 'free-range' kids are taken into custody; cops say 'homeless subject' was 'eyeing' them
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Police in Montgomery County, Maryland, took two unattended “free-range” children into custody on Sunday, little more than a month after the children’s parents were found responsible for “unsubstantiated” child neglect for allowing the children, ages 6 and 10, to walk home alone from a nearby park.
In the latest incident, police say they responded after receiving a 911 call at about 5 p.m. on Sunday. According to a press release, the police officer found the children in a Silver Spring parking garage, where a “homeless subject” was “eyeing the children.” The Washington Post, CNN, MyFoxDC and the Guardian have stories.
The children’s parents, Danielle and Alexander Meitiv, believe children should have freedom and independence to learn responsibility and gain confidence.
Danielle Meitiv told the Washington Post that she and Alexander were panicked when the children didn’t return home at the expected time of 6 p.m. on Sunday. They didn’t receive a call from Child Protective Services until 8 p.m.
Police found the children a few blocks from home and took them into custody, though the children informed police they were not lost, Danielle Meitiv said. The Meitivs were allowed to take the children home at about 10:30 p.m. after signing an agreement that they would not leave the children unattended.
“This is surreal,” Danielle Meitiv told the Post. “I can’t believe that anyone who claims to care about children would put children through this.”
The Meitivs are appealing the original “unsubstantiated neglect” finding, one of three choices given officials who conduct neglect investigations. The others are “indicated” and “ruled out.”
