NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The father of a 4-year-old child who was found dead in Harlem last weekend was taken into custody Tuesday and charged in his death, one day after the boy's mother was arrested, police said.
Laron Modlin, 25, was arrested just before 6 p.m. and charged with criminally negligent homicide and endangering the welfare of a child in relation to the death of his son, Jahmeik Modlin. He was charged after being taken into custody earlier in the afternoon and questioned at the 32nd Precinct station house.
Jahmeik's mother, 26-year-old Nytavia Ragsdale, was hit with the same charges on Monday after Jahmeik was discovered unconscious and unresponsive in their Harlem apartment the night before.
Officers responded to a sixth-floor apartment at 2484 Seventh Ave. after receiving a 911 call from Modlin, Jahmeik's father, The child appeared to be malnourished and had eczema on his chest, and sources told 1010 WINS that he had no documentation, including any health records showing he had ever seen a doctor.
Police listed the apartment building as the address for Jahmeik and both his parents.
Ragsdale's arraignment was scheduled for 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday at Manhattan Criminal Court. Modlin's arraignment is forthcoming.
The Administration for Children's Services (ACS) had been called on the family several times, but the agency was unable to substantiate claims that Jahmeik was mistreated or malnourished.
