The Department of Children and Families said it is not taking custody of the 2-year-old who wandered away from home Tuesday.
Boynton Beach police arrested the boy's father, but DCF determined the boy can stay with other people at the household.
Peter Joubert woke up in jail Wednesday morning. He's charged with child neglect. Detectives said his 2-year-old wandered off while Joubert slept Tuesday afternoon.
A neighbor found the boy about a quarter mile from his Boynton Beach home.
“The baby was sweating, very thirsty,” said Stephanie Slater, with the Boynton Beach police department.
Detectives estimated the toddler was outside without any clothes on for about 25 minutes.
“He was wandering in the street. He could have been hit by a car, he could have been kidnapped, there are so many variables,” Slater added.
In court, Joubert's lawyer called the situation "inadvertent." The judge agreed to let him out of jail under certain conditions. For one, he’s not allowed to contact his son.
DCF told NewsChannel 5 actions were put in place to ensure the child's safety. But a spokesperson couldn't share specifics, citing privacy laws.
Amanda lives right next door to Joubert. She said she’s never seen the boy outside alone.
“It’s scary and I’m glad the little one is okay,” she said, holding her 3-year-old daughter.
Amanda installed a child lock on the handle of her own front door. She said this small step gives her peace of mind.
“If we didn't have child safety locks on all of our doors, [my daughter] absolutely wouldn't take more than a moment to escape,” Amanda said.
No one answered the door at Joubert's home late Wednesday afternoon. He's due back in court September 1.
Officers brought this boy to the police station Tuesday night, but they realized they don’t have clothing and diapers for children, should this happen again.
They’re asking the public to donate any items so the department is prepared in the future.
To find out more information and learn how to make a donation, email Stephanie at slaters@bbfl.us
DCF has links to to several safety-related messages on its website:
For information on keeping kids safe in cars, click here.
For information on how to choose the right person to watch your child, click here.
For summer safety tips, click here.
For information on how to keep babies safe while they’re sleeping, click here.
