Police: Mom arrested after child left in filthy apartment

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A woman was arrested Saturday after her child was left alone in a filthy apartment, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said. 

Dajuana Thomas, 28, is charged with child neglect and giving false information to law enforcement. 

According to an arrest report, officers went to an apartment Saturday after receiving a call about a young child screaming for help.

When officers arrived, the child, who was only wearing shorts, told police that he was there by himself and his mom had been gone for a "long time." 

The child then led police through the home to his room so he could put a shirt and shoes on, the report said. Police said they discovered a large amount of cockroaches, ants and other insects crawling on the walls, furniture and floors, as well as bleach, paint and other "potentially hazardous material" in the bathroom at a height that the child could reach.

Police said the kitchen was covered in insects, filled with dirty dishes and the refrigerator, which was covered in mold, contained food that was not edible. 

Thomas later returned to the home and told police she left the child in the care of her two cousins for 30 minutes while she walked up to a corner store by the Kings Inn to make a call. 

Officers, however, pointed out that the walk to the corner store takes about 30 minutes and the trip would have taken her an hour, including the time walking back home.

Thomas was arrested and the Department of Children and Families was called to investigate.

She is being on a $15,000 bond at the Duval County Jail, according to jail records.