Police say 1-year-old left at Iowa City home alone

IOWA CITY - An Iowa City woman was arrested after her 1-year-old was discovered to have been left at home alone.

Iowa City police were called to 1712 H Street at 1 a.m. July 17 for a report of a 1-year-old child who was found wandering outside near the driveway. Police said the child's neighbors recognized the toddler and knew which home he belonged to. Police said when the neighbors went to the boy's home, they found the front door was wide open and no one was home.

Officers responded and found the boy wearing only a diaper. Police also discovered a creek not far from where the boy was found. After determining no one was home, police took the child into protective custody.

The boy's mother, 18-year-old Kayla E. Jones, was eventually found. Jones told police she left the boy at home in bed and left to 'hang out with her friend.” She left the boy at home because she couldn't bring him with and told officers no one would be returning 'for hours,” police said.

Iowa City police Sgt. Scott Gaarde said the child has been placed with a family member.

Jones has been arrested and faces one count of child endangerment, an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in jail.

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