A 28-year-old woman in Monroe County was arrested after allegedly neglecting her 2-year-old child.
Anita Roxanne Brown was charged with child neglect, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Police were called to a squatters-related complaint on Big Pine Key. When police arrived, they noted the property appeared to be a storage area not intended as a residence. Police found two dogs and a child under one of the storage trailers.
Police said the child was filthy and had a bruise on its cheek. The officer noted the child appeared to be alert and happy to see him. Paramedics were called to examine the child.
Police eventually found a woman, later identified as Brown, asleep on a couch inside the same storage trailer. Officials found that there was an aluminum pipe on the couch next to Brown. She eventually woke up, put the pipe in her purse and asked where the child was. A small amount of marijuana was found inside of her purse.
She was eventually arrested and taken to jail. The Department of Children and Families took custody of the child.
