A 2-year-old boy was left at a Goodwill in Southaven, Mississippi, with a plastic bag containing a change of clothes and a note, police said.
According to Southaven police, who declined to provide additional details, a person associated with the case was arrested Monday afternoon in Memphis, Tennessee.
“At the moment, the investigation is still ongoing, no suspicious information or charges are being released,” the department said in a Facebook post.
The child was found outside the Goodwill drop-off just before 10 a.m. Monday, police said. He couldn’t give officers his name or the names of his parents or relatives, the department said in its post.
Security video captured a man, woman and a red vehicle they were driving in when the boy was abandoned. The man was seen dropping the child off before running away, police said.
A Goodwill employee told local station WREG that the man walked up to him and said the child’s mother could no longer take care of him, then left, according to the outlet. A handwritten note on a paper towel said, “Child abandoned … no phone number for mom.”
The boy was taken to the police station and child protection was contacted.
“Goodwill discovered that a two-year-old child was abandoned in a donation center visited by Goodwill,” the company said in a statement. “The child was accompanied by an adult who dropped the child. The child’s safety is our top priority and we are very sorry to hear about the circumstances of this young child. When we knew the circumstances of the child, we immediately addressed the situation. Reported to the police. Our security leaders are working closely with local authorities, including by viewing surveillance footage. The case is currently an ongoing police investigation. “
Authorities were able to locate one of the suspects involved after receiving numerous tips from the community.
“We would like to thank all citizens who have expressed concern for the child, rest assured that he is doing well and that he will be taken care of and that he will be reunited with family when CPS determines that this is appropriate,” said Police Chief Macon Moore in a statement. .
“We would also like to thank all the citizens who have provided tips about the suspects in this case,” added the chief. “Community cooperation and a concerted law enforcement effort have resulted in the prompt arrest of suspects.”
