OHIO — A 30-year-old woman was arrested on April 10, 2025, after her toddler was discovered walking alone near Hamilton Elementary School, according to an Elyria Police Department press release.
Officers arrived at the scene around 10:57 a.m. after receiving multiple reports of a young child wrapped in a blanket walking alone down Middle Avenue.
Officers located the child, a 3-year-old girl, and took her to a nearby home in the 1200 block of Middle Avenue. The girl confirmed that it was her residence.
Police say they previously made contact at the same address in 2024 regarding a similar child endangerment case involving the same suspect, Chardea Thompson.
When no one answered the door and the rear entrance was discovered to be unlocked, officers entered the house out of concern for the child’s safety.
Inside, they discovered a 6-year-old boy sleeping in a bedroom with no responsible adult nearby.
Thompson was later contacted by phone and admitted to leaving the children with a relative, who she claimed was unaware the children were at home alone.
She was arrested without incident at around 12:18 p.m. and charged with Endangering Children, a fourth-degree felony.
She also had an active arrest warrant from the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Medina Post.
The children were placed with a responsible family member. Lorain County Children Services was notified.
“Our officers responded quickly to a potentially dangerous situation and ensured the safety of these young children,” said Chief of Police James Welsh. “We thank the citizens who acted responsibly by calling police when they saw a child in danger.”
Thompson was transferred to the Lorain County Jail.
