TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — A man was arrested after he left a 2-year-old child alone in a home, authorities say.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office received a report of a man passed out in a vehicle in the parking lot of a business in the 4900 block of US Alt 19 early Sunday morning.
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The man was identified as 39-year-old Nicholaus Johnson.
Deputies were able to make contact with Johnson's girlfriend who lives in Jacksonville. She said she was with Johnson in Tarpon Springs visiting family and later returned home on Saturday.
She said she left her 2-year-old child in the care of Johnson. However, the child was not with Johnson when deputies arrived to his vehicle.
Deputies learned that Johnson was staying at a residence in the 600 block of Pine Street while he was visiting.
When deputies arrived to the home, they found the 2-year-old sleeping. There were no other people inside the home.
The child was in good health and was transported to the police station around 6 a.m. It's unknown how long the child was alone in the home.
The Department of Children and Families responded to the scene to conduct an investigation.
The mother returned from Jacksonville early Sunday and was given custody of the child.
Johnson was arrested and charged with child neglect.
He was transported to the Pinellas County Jail.
